Prison Guards Describe Pedophile Priest's Death

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | todayy | svea hebst-bayliss

[Rodney King]

Prison Guards Describe Pedophile Priest's Death

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - Prison officers on Monday described how defrocked priest and convicted child molester John Geoghan was bound, strangled and beaten to death while the door of his cell was jammed shut and guards were distracted.

Officials said Joseph Druce, 37, a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi said to hate homosexuals, strangled Geoghan with a bed sheet and beat him in one of Massachusetts' most secure prisons on Saturday.

Geoghan was a central character in a sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church. Last year, the church paid $10 million to settle cases with 86 of his victims.

His prosecution uncovered a string of pedophile cases among the clergy that ultimately forced Cardinal Bernard Law, the head of Boston's archdiocese to resign last year.

Worcester County District Attorney John Conte said Druce will face murder charges in Geoghan's death. An autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.

The Boston Herald and The Boston Globe reported prison guards said Druce trailed Geoghan into his cell after lunch, jammed the electronically operated door shut and tied the 68-year-old former priest's hands behind his back.

Druce used a shoe to tighten the sheet around Geoghan's neck and then repeatedly jumped onto him from the bed, according to the guards' account.

"An officer heard a noise, went over to the cell, and he saw Geoghan on the floor, gagged and tied," Robert Brouillette, an executive of the 5,000-member correctional officers' union, told the Globe after speaking with the guards.

The Boston Herald reported that Geoghan, a high-profile prisoner segregated from the main prison population in a protective custody unit at the time of his death, told Leslie Walker, executive director of Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, he "was terrified the whole time he was in prison."

"In the prison population, men who have killed or abused children are at the bottom of the totem poll," said Dr Jay Feierman, a psychiatry professor at the University of New Mexico's medical school, who served as psychiatric medical director for the state's prisons.

"The sociopaths somehow have this hierarchy about who is beneath them and child molesters are at great risk."

Geoghan was one year into serving a sentence for fondling a young boy while they were swimming. At least 130 people accused him of abusing them while he served in various Boston area parishes.

Prison spokeswoman Kelly Nantel confirmed Geoghan was being held in protective custody and said the district attorney's office is conducting an investigation.

Some of Geoghan's victims expressed sadness and frustration that their tormentor had been killed, bringing a premature end to their search for justice.

"I had a moment of thinking 'He got what he deserved'," said Michael Linscott, 45, who was molested by Geoghan when he was an altar boy 37 years ago.

"As victims we will live in our own prison forever, but Geoghan got off easy. He is never going to hurt anyone again, but he still had a lot of penance to do on earth," Linscott said on Sunday.

[Lucy Lake]

You have FReepmail...

[VRWC_minion]

a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi said to hate homosexuals

But pedophiles are not homosexuals ? Why does the author want to twist this as an anit-gay thing ?

[Protagoras]

They judge people worthy of murder and judge nazi murderers "good for something", and you find me "awfully judgemental"?

Perhaps a little introspection might benefit you.

[fortaydoos]

You are a truly disturbed individual to be so concerned with the fate of this freak who destroyed so many lives over so many years, in a calculating and deliberate way.

You must be in constant agony over the misery millions of the truly innocent feel in this world if you care so much for the life of this truly evil, despical creature geoghen.

Or are you just here to spout your liberal nonsense to get a rise out of conservatives?

[gracex7]

Having been raised Catholic, and having seen many things that are not biblical concerning that religion, is perhaps why I think there has been no repentance from the Vatican on down. That, and of course the years of obfuscation, denials, etc. that have allowed this situation to continue unabated.

[Bluntpoint]

The pedophile suffers from a mental condition that can be relieved somewhat by ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy).

[dfwgator]

Simple solution to all of this. Mandatory solitary confinement for all prisoners. No TVs, no rec rooms, just toss some soapy water on them in their cells. It will get rid of having gangs form in prisons, and end the rapes and prison killings.

[Protagoras]

His final sentence was a gratititous slap at Catholics. If that is what you referred to as BS, I agree. My comment about the other was right on target only if you were referring to it. If not, my mistake.

[Protagoras]

You need a reading lesson. Maybe you are so disturbed that you can't read?

[AmericanInTokyo]

yes, quite so. the gratuitous slap itself was BS, IMHO

[John Beresford Tipton]

"The state is wondering how they can further punish him."

Elevator music as the sound track to Ishtar?

[Protagoras]

Simple solution to all of this. Mandatory solitary confinement for all prisoners. No TVs, no rec rooms, just toss some soapy water on them in their cells. It will get rid of having gangs form in prisons, and end the rapes and prison killings.

It sure is a better idea than cheerleading murderers.

[Protagoras]

I agree. Lots of BS goes on around here. Like the imbeciles who attack anyone who doesn't think nazis should murder pedophiles in prison by classifing them as liberals.

[fortaydoos]

I can read just fine. You seem quite upset that this scumbag geoghan got to experience a few seconds of what his victims, to this day, have to go thru: unrelenting agony. May he and all defenders of pedophiles rot in hell.

[blackdog]

If prison meant isolation, no television, no exercise(work), no bills, no nagging, no kids, no chores, and plenty of good reading, I'll call that a vacation! Where can I sign up?

[dfwgator]

It sure is a better idea than cheerleading murderers.

Not only that, it would serve as a more effective deterrent. The climate in prisons, which most people find repugnant, actually appeals to many criminals. It creates a mini-society where they can exert power over others through prison gangs. I say, take away that social structure, by not allowing prisoners to congregate with each other. Also prisons serve as "Criminal U", where upon release, prisoners have gained more knowledge in how to commit different kinds of crime.

[Protagoras]

I can read just fine.

BZZZT, wrongo.

You seem quite upset that this scumbag geoghan got to experience a few seconds of what his victims, to this day, have to go thru: unrelenting agony.

It only seems that way to disturbed people.

[lepton]

Then by your insight, what is it that the church as a whole deserves.

You took my comments too narrowly. We humans are evil. When we describe a "good man", it is only with the acceptance of certain levels of evil that we can do so with any sense of truth. I would not be surprised if what he did messed up quite a few kids for life.

So, when people talk about "fair", and "deserve", they are off in an inherently hypocritical subject attempting to use legalisms to defend a sinking standard of behavior. Look at what the man did. Compare the results of what he did compared to how things would be if he had acted right. For that matter, do that with yourself. Now think of what exactly it is that God "owes" you for your actions.

I meant what I said: Few of us get what we deserve - and we should all be thankful for that.

[lepton]

There seems to be no repentance, from the Pope on down.

Eh? I'm not RC, but I've noticed the Pope has not been too happy about what has been going on on a number of fronts.

[Protagoras]

Where can I sign up?

In Bulgaria.