Sex Abuse Victims Reach Settlement Agreement with St. George's School

MIDDLETOWN, RI—Victims of systemic and covered-up sexual abuse at St. George's School in Middletown have reached a settlement with the school in mediation.

According to a statement released jointly by the school and a group of survivors, up to 30 victims will receive financial compensation for past sexual abuse that occurred at the hands of several former school employees and other students in the 1970s and 1980s.

Leslie Heaney, Chair of the St. George’s Board of Trustees said, “It is our sincere hope that this agreed resolution will assist our survivors as they move forward towards healing. We look forward to continuing to work with our survivor community so that the lessons learned can ensure the safety of our current and future generations of St. George’s students.”

Eric MacLeish, who together with Carmen Durso was counsel for the claimants, stated, “St. George’s Board of Trustees has taken a major step forward in today’s announcement. While no amount of money can make victims whole, today’s settlement says to survivors: ‘This was not your fault, it affected your life in profound ways, it happened at our school, and we are truly sorry for what you have lost.’”

Anne Scott, a survivor representative who attended the mediation, stated, “St. George’s has done something meaningful and important for survivors. We are deeply grateful to the Board of Trustees for their leadership and compassion. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to receive this kind of validation and support, after all these years. Our spirits are renewed on our forward healing journey.”