THE FORMER STUDENT WILL REVEAL HIS IDENTITY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
THE FORMER STUDENT OF CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IS REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY MITCHELL GARABEDIAN OF BOSTON, MA. ATTORNEY GARABEDIAN WILL APPEAR BY ZOOM AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8793639574?pwd=S09NS240NEhoL09JMjIxRFErQXV2UT09
THE CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS THE FIRST TO PUBLICLY NAME AS A SEXUAL ABUSER BR. BRENDAN BRENNAN, FMS, WHO ALLEGEDLY ABUSED HIM AS A MINOR CHILD FROM 1980-1981 IN THE SCHOOL LOCKER ROOM, IN THE ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM, AND AT A FOOTBALL CAMP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BR. BRENDAN BRENNAN WAS AN ATHLETIC TRAINER AND TAUGHT RELIGION AT CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, LAWRENCE, MA, IS AN ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON SCHOOL CONTROLLED BY CARDINAL SEAN O’MALLEY WITH MEMBERS OF THE MARIST BROTHERS WORKING THERE
THE MARIST BROTHERS AND THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON REFUSE TO REASONABLY SETTLE THE CLAIM OF THIS COURAGEOUS FORMER STUDENT.
WHAT
A press conference by a former student of Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, MA, who was sexually abused by Br. Brendan Brennan, (FMS – deceased) as a minor child in a number of places inside and outside the school from approximately 1980-1981. The former student will demand that the Marist Brothers and the Archdiocese of Boston reasonably settle his claim.
WHEN AND WHERE
Monday, November 13, 2023 at 11:30 am on the public sidewalk across from the main entrance of Central Catholic High School at 300 Hampshire Street, Lawrence, MA 01841
WHY
See above
WHO AND CONTACTS
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D. President of Road to Recovery, Inc.
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – (cell-617-388-5252) office – 617-523-6250)
(Portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci in the 2016 Academy Award-winning Best Picture, “Spotlight”)
MEDIA COVERAGE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
Patch
Late Clergyman Accused Of Sexually Abusing Lawrence Teen
Brother Brendan Brennan of the Marist Brothers has been accused of sexually abusing a student, 16, at Central Catholic High School in 1980.
Cailin Loesch, Patch Staff
Posted Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 1:05 pm ET|Updated Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 1:54 pm ET
Click on Link for Article
https://patch.com/massachusetts/northandover/late-clergyman-accused-sexually-abusing-lawrence-teen
Former student alleges sexual abuse at Central High in 1980s
By Jill Harmacinski jharmacinski@eagletribune.com
LAWRENCE — Another former student of Central Catholic High School said he was sexually assaulted by a Marist Brother who worked at the school in the early 1980s, according to Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian.
The former student, Francis Kearney III, 59, of Pocasset, revealed his identity and the allegations against Brother Brendan Brennan (now deceased) during a press conference Monday outside of the 300 Hampshire St. school, Garabedian said.
Garabedian has represented more than 2,500 victims and survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and hundreds of victims and survivors of abuse by those in the Boy Scouts, private schools, and other organizations.
Kearney said Brennan abused him from 1980-81 in the school locker room, in the athletic training room, and at a football camp in New Hampshire.
Brennan was an athletic trainer and taught religion. He was nicknamed “Brother Drop ‘Em,” Garabedian said in an interview Tuesday.
In 2017, two former students said they were physically and sexually abused at the school in the 1960s.
Officials at Central Catholic were “unaware of the plan to hold this press conference, and the individual involved has not contacted the school,” according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon.
“The Central Catholic community continues to offer ongoing prayer, heartfelt compassion and its support for all survivors of abuse and their families,” according to the statement released by Christopher Merrill, CCHS director of strategic communications.
“Along these lines, Central Catholic had established and made public in 2002, a toll-free number staffed by independent, professional counselors to allow victims to report allegations confidentially and to receive counseling. We remain fully committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community past, present and future,” the statement continues.
Merrill added CCHS will not comment publicly on cases which are ongoing or under litigation.
Kearney on Monday was accompanied by Robert Hoatson of the The Road to Recovery, which represents victims of sexual abuse by priests.
Garabedian said the Marist Brothers and Archdiocese of Boston “refuse to reasonably settle the claim of this courageous former student.”
He said it not unusual for a victim to reveal sexual abuse in their 40s and 50s and decades after the crimes occurred.
In 2017, two men told The Eagle-Tribune they were physically and sexually abused by Brother Michael Edward in the 1960s and that a culture of “regimentation and intimidation” was prevalent there .
“There was extreme physical abuse and it was just accepted,” said Michael Bresnahan, a 1967 Central Catholic graduate, in an interview at the time.
Another graduate, who was represented by Garabedian, said he was sexually abused by the late Rev. Paul Rynne of St. Patrick’s Church and four Marist brothers at Central Catholic, including the late Brother Michael Edward who was “the most egregious,” he said.
The man said the abuse by Edward took place at the school, in the locker room and training room, as well as an off-site training area Central Catholic athletes visited in Tyngsboro.
The Eagle-Tribune does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault without their consent.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.
