Father Brian Hatrick
Diocese of Buffalo
Ordained: 1979
Removed: 2007
Assigned as follows:
- 1980-1983 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (Depew, NY)
- 1984-1986 Fourteen Holy Helpers (Gardenville, NY)
- 1987 Awaiting assignment
- 1988-2007 St. Vincent (North Evans, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Brian Hatrick:
According to media reports, in 1980, a woman told the Diocese of Buffalo that Father Brian Hatrick molested her 14-year old son. They were parishioners at Blessed Sacrament and he was an altar boy. The abuse happened after Father Hatrick took him to see the movie “Popeye,” starring Robin Williams.
Soon after her once joyful altar boy was no longer interested in serving at Masses. She repeatedly asked him about why he gave it up, until one day he broke down and cried, she said. He told her that Father Hatrick climbed on top of him in a car, fondled his genitals and kissed him.
Father Hatrick was transferred to another parish in West Seneca, and continued to work with youth. In 2003, the woman complained to church officials when she learned Father Hatrick was still in ministry.
“If I would have done what I should have done in 1980 and gone to the police, I think I could have saved a lot of kids,” she said. “It could have been ended right there in the 1980s.”
“I just can’t believe we didn’t do anything,” she said. “We were young parents. The church was the only thing we had. As young people, the church was our backbone.”
No action was taken until 2007, when Father Hatrick was “quietly removed.” He retired in 2008, and as of 2016, he was believed to be living in Friendship, New York.
In March 2018, Father Hatrick’s name was included in the Diocese of Buffalo’s list of priests who “were removed from ministry, were retired, or left ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.” No information regarding the allegations was disclosed.
In August 2019, Father Hatrick was accused of child sexual abuse in a lawsuit filed under the NY Child Victims Act. In 2020, he was named in another lawsuit against the Diocese of Buffalo, in which he was accused of sexually abusing a minor. The details of the sexual abuse allegations, including when and where the alleged abuse occurred, or the victim’s age/gender, are unknown.
In April 2020, Father he was one of 23 priests removed off of the Diocese of Buffalo’s payroll through an agreement it reached with survivors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo and throughout New York. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Buffalo may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Buffalo if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.