Sean Adams gets standing at inquiry

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

07 December 2007

A former city lawyer involved in a $32,000 settlement between an alleged victim of child sexual abuse and the Alexandria-Cornwall Roman Catholic Diocese was granted limited standing at the Cornwall Public Inquiry Thursday.

Local philanthropist Sean Adams acted briefly for David Silmser, the recipient of the $32,000 pay-off, in the fall of 1993 by providing him with independent legal advice.

Adams has been granted standing so his lawyers can question or cross-examine any witness that may give evidence that affects him.

Comm. Normand Glaude also granted additional funding to the Alexandria-Cornwall Roman Catholic Diocese Thursday so officials could hire a paralegal to help out when it comes to research purposes.

Glaude said he would recommend a paralegal be allotted 275 hours as the inquiry nears the end of the evidentiary hearings.

He informed the diocese that if they request more funds than this, he would need to know exactly how the money would be spent.