Father Barry Meehan

Barry Meehan Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Ordained: 1978

Status: Arrested / Laicized

Deceased: 2016

Assignment History

1976: St. Gregory the Great Church (Warwick, RI), deacon assistant
1978-1980: SS. Peter & Paul Church (West Warwick, RI)
1980-1991: St. Mary Church (Cranston, RI)
1991-1996: St. Augustine Church (Providence, RI)
1996-2002: St. John the Baptist Church (West Warwick, RI)
2000-2002: St. James Church (West Warwick, RI)
2002-2013: St. Timothy Church (Warwick, RI)
2013: Suspended on leave
2015: Laicized

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Barry Meehan

Father Barry Meehan was ordained a priest in 1978 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island for more than three decades. He is one of several Catholic clergy members connected to Rhode Island clergy sexual abuse lawsuits involving the Diocese of Providence.

According to the Diocese of Providence list of credibly accused clergy, Meehan has been identified as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. He was also included on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy in Appendix A of the Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Meehan was arrested in 2014 and charged with five counts of first-degree sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty and died on December 8, 2016, while awaiting trial. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report states that Meehan was the subject of allegations involving at least four teenage boys and one young man.

Allegations Against Father Barry Meehan

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, allegations against Meehan involved at least four teenage boys and one young man from approximately 1983 through the mid-2000s. The report states that the alleged victims were either altar boys or had parish jobs.

According to BishopAccountability.org, in December 2012, a man reported to the Diocese that Meehan had sexually assaulted him between 1986 and 1991, when the man was a teenage boy. State Police were notified, and during the investigation a second accuser was identified who alleged that Meehan sexually abused him when he was a teenager in 1991 and 1992.

Meehan denied the allegations. He was placed on leave in January 2013.

Diocese of Providence Response to Father Barry Meehan Allegations

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, the first complaint to the Diocese about Meehan was made in 1998, and another complaint followed in 2000. Despite these reports, Meehan remained in ministry.

The report states that there were multiple instances in which parishioners alerted the Diocese that many boys were spending time around the rectory, including near Meehan’s bedroom. Meehan allegedly gave boys gifts, vacations, and promises of jobs at his parishes.

According to the report, Meehan’s conduct raised repeated concerns over many years before he was finally suspended in 2013.

Criminal Case Against Father Barry Meehan

In November 2014, Meehan was arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty.

Meehan was laicized on May 7, 2015. He died of a heart attack on December 8, 2016, at age 67, while awaiting trial.

Father Barry Meehan and Institutional Failures

Meehan’s case reflects a pattern seen in many clergy abuse cases: concerns were reported to church officials years before meaningful action was taken.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, the Diocese received complaints and warnings about Meehan beginning years before his suspension. The report also describes alleged grooming behavior, including giving boys gifts, taking them on vacations, and promising them jobs at his parishes.

Meehan was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2019. He was also included on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy in Appendix A of the Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Father Barry Meehan

Can I sue for sexual abuse by a priest in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island’s new two-year revival window, beginning July 1, 2026, allows survivors of child sexual abuse to file claims that were previously blocked by the statute of limitations. You can bring a claim during this two-year window regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. Because there is a deadline to file your claim, survivors should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

How long do I have to sue for sexual abuse in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island’s new law creates a two-year window for certain older child sexual abuse claims beginning July 1, 2026. Claims must be filed by June 30, 2028. Survivors should not wait, because it may be necessary to gather relevant documents, investigate the claim, and determine the appropriate parties to sue.

Can the Diocese of Providence be sued for my sexual abuse by a priest?

Possibly. Survivors may have claims against the Diocese of Providence or another Catholic institution, including parishes and schools, if there is evidence that the institution knew or should have known about the risk of abuse and failed to protect children. Horowitz Law attorneys can review the facts of your case and explain your legal options.

Was Father Barry Meehan listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Barry Meehan was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2019. He was also included on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy in Appendix A of the Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Rhode Island Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Rhode Island’s new law creates a two-year revival window, beginning July 1, 2026, for certain older child sexual abuse claims. Horowitz Law is bringing these lawsuits in Rhode Island and has collected evidence of the Diocese of Providence’s negligence. The revival window allows survivors of clergy sexual abuse to pursue claims that were previously blocked by the statute of limitations. Filing deadlines will apply, so survivors should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Horowitz Law Is Here to Help

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy connected to the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest or clergy member in Rhode Island, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by a priest or clergy member in Rhode Island may have legal options due to Rhode Island’s new two-year revival window for certain child sexual abuse claims, but filing deadlines will apply, so do not delay in reaching out to us.

Father Barry Meehan – Diocese of Providence