|
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests SNAP
Press Release
For immediate release:
For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis SNAP National Director 314
566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Sex Abuse Victims Want Government Authorities To Ban Pedophile
Support Group Urges Canada & US To Block Former Irish Priest
Hes The Subject of Shocking New Documentary & Has Vanished They Plan To Write Immigration Officials Seeking To Protect Kids For the first time in its 17 year history, a support group for clergy sex abuse victims is asking US and Canadian officials to block a pedophile ex-priest from entering either country. A leading Irish newspaper reports that Oliver OGrady, who spent years in a California prison for molesting boys and girls there and was later deported to Ireland, has fled his homeland and may be en route to France and ultimately Canada. Interest in OGradys crimes has been rekindled recently by the release last week of a controversial and highly acclaimed documentary about the Catholic church child sex abuse and cover up scandal. The film, 'Deliver of Us from Evil', was released in major US cities on Friday and features lengthy and surprisingly frank interviews with OGrady. The Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, is urging governmental agencies in both Canada and the US to be vigilant and to stop OGrady from entering either nation. OGrady could be anywhere now, acknowledges SNAP president Barbara Blaine of Chicago. Locking him up is the only way to really keep kids safe, but until that happens, he should at least be kept out of this country. If he enters Canada, Blaine said, he might find access to the US easier. Our understanding is that its not that tough to cross into the US from Canada, while authorities are usually more careful with travelers from other countries, she said. We feel its our duty to speak out and alert families about this dangerous man, said Mary Grant of Long Beach, California, SNAPs Western Regional Director. She knows several of OGradys victims. Anything that might restrict his movement and alert law enforcement of his presence would be helpful, Grant said. The group especially worries that OGrady may return to California, where some families in the Stockton area (where he was convicted in 1998) may still like and trust him, or may be unaware that he was found guilty of child sex abuse. Even after criminal convictions, some devout and naïve Catholics often believe their favorite, charming priest is innocent, Grant said. It may be hard for some to believe or understand, but we fear that some California Catholics might still trust OGrady around their kids even now. If OGrady ends up someplace new, at least hell have to start from scratch building up trust among unsuspecting families, SNAP says. But if hes back in the US, hell have more access and advantage than he would living somewhere else, Grant said. "We suspect he'll be better able to ingratiate himself into Catholic families here." An Irish clergy abuse victim, advocate, and political candidate, Colm O'Gorman, has appealed for international cooperation in tracking OGrady. OGorman is a founder of One in Four, Irelands leading organization for child molestation victims. He has also said that the incident should prompt a review of Irish laws surrounding sexual abuse and the registering of sex offenders. For interviews with the filmmaker, please contact Adam Kersch of Lionsgate (212 386 6874). For interviews with OGradys victims, please contact Mary Grant of SNAP (626 419 2930).
|
|
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests www.snapnetwork.org |
||