SPRINGFIELD (MA)
Republican
By BILL ZAJAC Staff writer
wzajac@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD – Recently retired Springfield Personnel Director Joseph Dougherty has filed a suit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield that accuses a priest from Palmer of sexually abusing him.
Dougherty accuses Andre A. Corbin Jr. of abusing him when he was a minor, according to a suit filed last week in Hampden Superior Court. It is unclear whether Corbin, who once served in the Raleigh, N.C., diocese, had any relationship with the Springfield diocese.
Dougherty does not state in the suit where or when the alleged abuse occurred. Springfield lawyer Raipher D. Pellegrino, who represents Dougherty, said neither he nor his client would comment.
Corbin had no comment when contacted at his Palmer home.
The Most Rev. Joseph F. Maguire, bishop emeritus of the Springfield Diocese, is named as a defendant in the suit as well as Corbin and the Springfield diocese. The suit states that Maguire knew Corbin had abused other boys before Corbin molested Dougherty.
