We act for Mr Tony Gribben in his High Court Action against the Diocese of Dromore and the Board of Governors of St Colman’s College Newry for historic abuse.

Over 45 years ago he was abused by the now deceased former President of the college, Malachy Finnegan.

We are pleased to announce he will receive a six figure compensation settlement and a personal apology from the Bishop to reflect the pain suffering hurt and distress experienced by him when he was a pupil at the school.

Speaking after the announcement of the settlement in court this morning solicitor Kevin Winters said,

“We commend Tony for his tenacity in pursuing this case after all this time. His brave decision to drop his anonymity should help to expose Finnegan’s industrial-scale abuse of schoolboys.

 

He now wants his case to shine a spotlight on the failure of the Church and the School to uncover this appalling criminality.”

 

Mr Gribben added

“For the apology to be meaningful the Church must acknowledge it was more concerned about protecting its reputation than safeguarding children from the actions of predatory paedophiles like Finnegan. The Diocese needs to be completely transparent in cooperating with a long overdue investigation on its failings.”