Abuse victim threatens to blow himself up because of legal delays

Published: 2006-08-29

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) -- An Irishman frustrated with delays in compensation for clergy sexual abuse threatened to blow himself up and spent more than 24 hours in a standoff with police. The standoff ended Aug. 24 in the town of Roscrea after retired electrician Jim Hourigan, accompanied by his dog, voluntarily left his house and handed himself over to Irish police after a statement released to the media was read on evening radio news bulletins. The statement, released by Hourigan's lawyer, Joe Burke, said the electrician felt compelled to take action to draw attention to the sexual assaults he had suffered while training to be a Christian Brother. Although a man has been tried and imprisoned for the attacks on Hourigan, the electrician has not received compensation from the Christian Brothers. The statement said, "Civil proceedings have been ongoing for a number of years, and he has become increasingly frustrated by the delays in achieving justice. He has taken these actions in order to bring attention to his situation in the hope of achieving justice." After being questioned by police, Hourigan was released. No charges were filed against him, police said.

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