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1 800 686 9921
Brother William A. Hennessy was accused in a 2011 letter of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl between 1962 and 1964, beginning when the child was just eight years old. The girl’s family had befriended Hennessy, who served as a senior administrator at Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. According to the accusation, Hennessy frequently visited the girl’s mother and grandmother, giving him repeated access to the child.
Hennessy entered the Christian Brothers’ St. Joseph’s Juniorate in Dublin in 1915. He served in Ireland and England before working across multiple archdioceses in the United States, including Newark, Chicago, Seattle, New York, and Boston. He died on September 22, 1978. His name was listed on the website of Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian on October 31, 2014, following a settlement reached the previous year.
With decades of dedicated advocacy, we have held abusers and institutions accountable, helping survivors secure justice and the resources to move forward.
For over two decades, we have focused solely on advocating for survivors, combining legal skill with compassion to guide them toward justice and healing.
We are honored to have guided thousands of survivors through the legal process, offering support, advocacy, and the resources they need to reclaim their lives.
Civil litigation in clergy sexual abuse cases may examine not only the conduct of the individual religious brother, but also the institutional decisions made by the Christian Brothers and the Archdiocese of Boston. When a religious brother served across multiple dioceses and states over a long career, questions may arise about what his superiors knew or should have known — and whether adequate steps were taken to protect children in each new assignment.
The settlement reached in connection with Hennessy’s case suggests that civil accountability may be achievable even for abuse that occurred decades ago. Massachusetts law may include provisions relevant to delayed disclosure in cases of childhood sexual abuse, and each survivor’s circumstances are different. If you or someone you know has been abused by Brother Hennessy or others associated with the Archdiocese of Boston or the Christian Brothers, you may be able to explore your legal options. We encourage you to contact us for a confidential consultation.
Civil claims also serve a broader purpose: they create a public record of institutional failures, support transparency, and help ensure that future generations are better protected. Every step taken through the legal process is a potential step toward acknowledgment and justice.
Every survivor deserves compassion and acknowledgment. This video explains how civil law empowers individuals harmed by clergy abuse to pursue accountability and closure. Justice extends beyond courtrooms; it allows survivors to reclaim their voice and aids them on their healing journey. Survivors across Massachusetts continue proving that truth carries strength and healing begins with being heard.
Our experienced and compassionate team of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and support staff have extensive training in working with sexual abuse victims.
These cases are complex; however, our team are experts in these types of cases and will diligently ensure our clients are compensated for full and fair value. We always do our best to help our clients heal by giving them a voice
and helping them seek a measure of justice.
Massachusetts Disclaimer:Herman Law has a multistate practice representing victims of sexual abuse in civil cases. A Herman Law attorney is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts. Each case is different, and results in prior cases do not assure a similar outcome in future cases. If there is no recovery, no fees or expenses will be charged. Attorney Advertising by Jenny Rossman.
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