We act on behalf of over 20 survivors of historic sexual mental and physical abuse in legal actions against the Diocese of Dromore.

Many of the cases relate to abuse by the deceased paedophile priest Malachy Finnegan.

His victims range from his time as a priest in the Parish of Derrymacash then at St Colman’s college through to his time in the Parish of Clonduff.

Once the full horrific extent of his activities became known a police investigation was launched.

Many victims whose voices had been unheard for decades came forward to assist the investigation.

9 persons were interviewed under caution but over 2 years later there has been no direction to prosecute anyone.

Critically there was no finding of any hierarchical or institutional connivance by the Church or anyone else.

A Police Ombudsman Inquiry into allegations of previous investigative failings by the RUC has since been closed.

Against this background a new legal action has been taken against the Holy See in Rome.

Today one of Finnegan’s earliest victims Barry McCourt has taken the incredibly brave step to announce he is taking a test case.

He hopes that his unprecedented legal action will help deliver justice for many others.

Speaking on the launch of the High court action against the Pope and the Archdiocese solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW LAW said,

“The outworkings of both the PSNI and PONI investigations has resulted in a huge loss of confidence that anything will ever be done to expose just how much the Church knew about Finnegan’s activities.

 

We are in ongoing communication with the PSNI on a number of issues arising from the investigation.

 

We have written to police today asking them to look at new evidence to support the gnawing allegation of a systemic cover up at the highest level.

 

Removing photographs from walls and digging up mosaics are mere token gestures which go nowhere near remedying the justice deficit here.

 

This case is being taken in order to try and address the real disappointment and frustration felt by many who took part in the criminal inquiry.”