Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP)
Phase I Protocol 

In October 2017, the Diocese of Rockville Centre announced the establishment of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP). This program seeks to provide compensation to victim-survivors of abuse by priests or deacons of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Some clergy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre who allegedly sexually abused minors were: Fr. Edward Byrne, Fr. James Bergin, Fr. Robert Brown, Fr. George Michell, Fr. Peter Duvelsdorf, Fr. Daniel G. Babis, and Fr. Joseph T. Mundy, among others.

• Phase I of the Diocese of Rockville Centre program is limited in scope to victims-survivors who previously submitted a complaint of being sexually abused as a minor to the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
• Phase II of the program will allow victims-survivors who did not previously complain or report to the Diocese of Rockville Centre to seek compensation following the conclusion of Phase I of the Diocese of Rockville Centre Compensation Program.

The deadline to submit a claim within Phase I has been extended to March 31, 2018.

If you are a victim or survivor of sexual abuse by clergy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and it helps you try to heal then you should consider entering into the Compensation Program. If you do want to participate in Phase I of this program you should be aware that the deadline to submit a claim is March 31, 2018. It is advisable to begin your application as soon as possible for either Phase I or Phase II of the program.

If you wish to participate in Phase I or Phase II of the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s compensation program, this firm with the assistance of New York counsel can assist you in assembling the necessary papers and application for compensation. We have successfully represented clergy sexual abuse victims and survivors in obtaining compensation from a number of dioceses and religious orders in the United States.

If you file an application for compensation you are under no obligation to accept the financial offer of settlement by the Diocese of Rockville Centre before you sign a Full Release of Liability. Phase I and Phase II both apply to clergy sexual abuse victims and survivors who were sexually abused by clergy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

It is important that your claim be properly prepared before being evaluated by the Administrators of the Compensation Program. For example, with regard to corroboration, historical records, such as medical records and therapy records, should be collected and reviewed, oral and written communications concerning the clergy sexual abuse should be examined and law enforcement records should be obtained and reviewed. The Administrators must find that the facts and circumstances of the claim of clergy sexual abuse demonstrate that the allegations are credible and that the clergy sexual abuse victim or survivor provides sufficient corroboration and proof to justify the payment of compensation.

The lack of sufficient corroboration and proof of the allegations of clergy sexual abuse will be taken into account by the Administrators in determining the credibility of the claim and eligibility for compensation. You are allowed to supplement your pending claim with additional information.

The deadline to submit a claim within Phase I is on or before March 31, 2018. If you accept the settlement offer, the Diocese will require you to sign a Full Release of Liability waiving all future legal rights to bring a claim or an action against all responsive parties. You will not be bound by any kind of Confidentiality Agreement.

The Administrators expect to review claims and make payments to eligible claimants on a rolling basis.

Please note that the above statement is just a brief discussion of the Diocese of Rockville Centre Compensation Program or Protocol and is no way exhaustive in the description of the Compensation Program or Protocol.