Father Liam O’Doherty
Diocese of Ogdensburg
Ordained: 1965
Assigned as Follows:
- 1966-1967: St. Lawrence (Canton, NY)
- 1968: St. Joseph (Malone, NY)
- 1969-1971: St. Patrick (Port Henry, NY)
- 1972-1973: St. Mary (Clayton, NY)
- 1974-1979: St. Ann (St. Regis Falls, NY)
- 1980-1993: St. Andrew (Sackets Harbor, NY)
- 1994-1998: St. Michael Church (Antwerp, NY)
- 1999-2002: Absent on Leave
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Liam O’Doherty:
Father Liam O’Doherty was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Ogdensburg in 1965. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. According to media reports, in 1979, a Franklin County Grand Jury accused him of sexually abusing three children in the mid-to late 1970’s. The victims were said to be three 14-year-old girls who attended St. Ann in St. Regis Falls. The case was dismissed after six months and the Diocese of Ogdensburg decided to put him back to work.
In 1999, Father O’Doherty was indexed as “Absent on sick leave” without privileges. In 2000, four women filed separate lawsuits alleging that Father O’Doherty had sexually abused them as children in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Two of the victims were sisters and claimed that they were repeatedly molested by Father O’Doherty in their own home.
The other two Syracuse women alleged sexual abuse from 1985-1991 in the St. Andrew’s Church rectory in Sackets Harbor. All four were settled as of January 2003. Both women alleged the Diocese of Ogdensburg and St. Andrew’s trustees knew about Father O’Doherty propensity to be sexually attracted to children, but did not warn parishioners or restrict his access to children.
In a civil suit filed in January 2001, another Syracuse woman alleged Father O’Doherty fondled her breasts on multiple occasions when she was 8 to 13 years old. She also claimed that one night he insisted she sleep with him in his bed with her pants off.
He is currently living at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri and is apparently subject to severe restrictions.
In November 2018, Father O’Doherty’s name was included on the Diocese of Ogdensburg’s list of credibly accused priests.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused as a child in New York State, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Ogdensburg now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.