Lawyer Suggests Witness Had Enough Information To Confront Priest-Inquiry

July 18, 2008 — Did a former Cornwall diocese lawyer have enough information to confront a priest accused of child sex abuse? Victims' Group lawyer Dallas Lee believes the answer is yes. During yesterday's hearing of the Cornwall Public Inquiry, Lee listed a number of sexual allegations against a priest. Lee suggested lawyer Jacques Leduc had more than enough information to take action. (Hear audio clip below) As for an out of court settlement with the same priest, Leduc admits not reading the final copy of the $32,000 deal between the church and an alleged victim was "disastrous". By not reading the final document, Leduc was not aware of a clause that prevented the alleged victim from proceeding criminally. Hearings continue this morning at 8:30.

 [Transcript of audio proceedings:  

MR. LEE: I'm going to suggest to you that you had more than enough detail …for him to be able to confirm or deny whether or not these things had happened and for you to report that response to the Bishop. Would you agree with me on that?  

MR. LEDUC: That's your view, sir. 

MR. LEE: Would you agree with my views? 

MR. LEDUC: No. ]