Attorney questions destruction of files in priest sex case

[Ian David]

By Susan Haigh and John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writers | March 23, 2007

HARTFORD, Conn. --An attorney representing four men who say they were sexually abused as boys decades ago by a former state police and fire chaplain said Friday that state police may have prematurely destroyed documents from a criminal investigation into the abuse claims.

Attorney Robert I. Reardon Jr. questioned the handling of a 1990s investigation of The Rev. Stephen C. Foley. Foley was never charged with a crime, but was named in 11 civil claims filed against the Archdiocese of Hartford, archdiocese spokesman Rev. John P. Gatzak said. Eight of the claims have been settled.

Foley could not be reached for comment Friday, but has previously denied the molestation claims. A call was left seeking comment with Foley's attorney.

State Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the legislature's powerful Judiciary Committee, is expected to speak at a news conference Monday over the matter. Lawlor would not discuss the news conference Friday, but an advisory he provided reporters said participants would "reveal and discuss a possible cover-up by Connecticut law enforcement agencies and others over the sexual abuse of children."

Also attending will be one of the accusers, and representatives from the Survivors' Network of Those Abused by Priests and Voice of the Faithful. Reardon said he will not attend Monday's news conference.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2007/03/23/attorney_alleges_law_enforcement_cover_up_in_priest_sex_case/