News Conference: US Clergy Abuse Litigator to Bring Expertise to UK

Joining London-based Solicitor to Advocate For Sexual Abuse Victims

At a news conference in London, United States clergy abuse litigator Jeff Anderson and London-based solicitor of England and Wales Ann Olivarius, will announce the launch of a new legal practice formed to seek justice in the UK for victims of clergy abuse.  Anderson, whose current practice is located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is internationally recognized as a pioneer in using American civil courts to seek justice for victims of sexual abuse by clergy, and accountability from institutions such as the Catholic Church for their role in covering up the crimes.

Also to be announced at the news conference is the firm’s first lawsuit. Among the defendants named in the lawsuit are Irish priest Father Francis Markey and the Diocese of Clogher in Ireland. Markey, who is alleged to have molested children in Ireland and the United States,  was once assigned to Our Lady of Victory residential treatment facility in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England.

Joining Jeff and Ann at the news conference will be Father Thomas Doyle, a Dominican priest and canon lawyer who was the co-author of the 200+ page, once-secret and still controversial 1985 report that predicted that molestation charges against clergy would erupt soon and also advised bishops on how to respond pastorally to abuse victims.

Father Doyle will release a paper he has authored on the history of The Servants of The Paraclete clergy offender treatment facilities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

When
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 at 10 A.M.

Where
Lincoln’s Inn
The Old Court Room
33 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 3TL

Who
Ann Olivarius/Managing Partner, Solicitor of England and Wales
Jeff Anderson/Partner
Father Thomas Doyle/Dominican Priest, Canon Lawyer and Author
Pete Saunders/Survivor and Founder & Chief Executive of the London-based National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)

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