Lawsuit Accuses St. Thomas More School of Covering Up Historical Sexual Abuse

What Happened

A new lawsuit has been filed against the St. Thomas More School in Connecticut, alleging that a former chaplain, Fr. Edward McGrath, sexually abused a student during the 1992-1993 academic year. The plaintiff claims he reported the abuse to the school's headmaster at the time, but the institution failed to take action.

The legal complaint asserts that the school neglected to inform authorities or the student's family about the report. Instead, the school allegedly allowed McGrath to maintain unsupervised access to students even after the abuse was disclosed.

McGrath, who died in 1998, was later identified by the Diocese of Norwich as a priest with substantiated sexual abuse allegations. This new case joins a history of previous claims and lawsuits regarding his conduct at the boarding school dating back several decades.

The Core Points

Plaintiff alleges sexual abuse by former chaplain Fr. Edward McGrath at St. Thomas More School.
Lawsuit claims the school headmaster ignored reports of abuse in 1993.
McGrath was later listed by the Diocese of Norwich as having substantiated abuse allegations.
Legal action seeks to hold the private boarding school accountable for failing to protect students.
Previous lawsuits and reports concerning McGrath date back to the early 2000s.

Context in 60 Seconds

This litigation reflects a broader trend of survivors utilizing civil statutes to hold private educational and religious institutions accountable for historical abuse. Many states have recently expanded statutes of limitations, allowing individuals to seek justice for incidents that occurred decades ago.

These cases frequently highlight systemic failures in institutional reporting and child safety protocols. As more survivors come forward, schools and religious organizations are facing increased pressure to transparently address past misconduct and improve oversight mechanisms to protect students.

Bottom Line

The lawsuit underscores the ongoing legal reckoning for institutions that failed to protect students from predatory staff, highlighting the long-term impact of administrative inaction.

Loading briefing details...