CTV Toronto
Date: Friday Aug. 12, 2011 2:57 PM ET
The Canadian Press
CHATHAM, Ont. — Four men from Tilbury, Ont., have launched an $8-million lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of London, alleging sexual abuse by a priest.
Each man is suing for $2 million.
The lawsuit stems back to the 1970s and ’80s when Father Bernard Robert was a priest at St. Francis Xavier in Tilbury, about 25 kilometres southwest of Chatham.
The allegations in the suit have not been proven in court.
Robert was also a priest at parishes in Blenheim, Alvinston, Watford and Wallaceburg. He died in the late 1990s and never faced criminal charges.
Lawyers representing the four men say the diocese was told about the alleged abuse in 1999.
Two of the men, David Turrill and Denis Robert (no relation to the priest) held a news conference today in Chatham.
Denis Robert said the abuse happened when he was an altar boy between Grades 5 and 8.
He says he wants an apology and answers from the church.
Turrill says he spent many years living on the streets as a result of the psychological damage he says he suffered.
With files from CKLW and CFCO
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Roman Catholic Diocese of London Sued in Connection with Sexual Abuse Allegations
Newstalk 1290 CJBK
12 August 2011
Kaitlin Lee
An 8 million dollar lawsuit alleging sexual abuse has been launched against the Roman Catholic Diocese of London.
Four men from Tilbury are each suing for 2 million dollars saying a priest sexually abused them.
The lawsuit stems back to the 1970s and ’80s when Father Bernard Robert was a priest at St. Francis Xavier in Tilbury, about 25 kilometres southwest of Chatham.
Robert was also a priest at parishes in Blenheim, Alvinston, Watford and Wallaceburg.
He died in the late 1990s and never faced criminal charges.