Flanagan Disputes Fahey Allegations In Lawsuit Response

ANDOVER, MA — Town Manager Andrew Flanagan disputed former Youth Services Director Bill Fahey's allegations against him and the town Friday in a response to Fahey's lawsuit filed in June.

Flanagan's attorney Leonard Kesten filed the response with Essex Superior Court Friday, some two weeks after he said he expected to respond.

The former Youth Services director filed a lawsuit against the town and the town manager on June 3, alleging breach of contract and defamation of character, among other claims.

In his suit in Essex Superior Court, Fahey alleged that Flanagan had been targeting him for over five years and that he did not have "sufficient cause to terminate his employment."

Flanagan fired Fahey in May, citing the findings of an independent investigation. According to Fahey's suit, the town alleged "credible information" that Fahey had "engaged in inappropriate behavior with a minor."

Among other claims, Fahey said in his filing that the investigator, Regina Ryan, "concluded that the person who made the original allegations against Fahey lacked credibility and that the original allegation was not substantiated."

In the response filed Friday, Flanagan denied that Fahey was targeted.

"He was dismissed because serious allegations were reported alleging misconduct by him in his dealings with an AYS program participant and the participant’s family," the filing reads.

The filing does not give further detail on the report or the allegations but repeatedly argues there was sufficient evidence for investigator Regina Ryan's report.

Ryan's "detailed findings that Fahey had engaged in inappropriate contract ... were corroborated by other witnesses, including Fahey’s own admissions, and by other evidence, including Fahey’s own text messages," Flanagan responded.

"The defendants deny that Fahey was wrongfully terminated, that they acted wrongfully, or that they are liable for any of the alleged damages," the response reads.

Flanagan has so far refused to release Ryan's unredacted report, citing concern for third parties involved in the case. On Thursday, a state official ordered the town to release more of the report or to further justify the redactions.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.