Grand Jury Fails to Indict Monsignor Brady
By Colin Mixson
A grand jury failed to indict a Marine Park priest who police say tried to molest two teenage boys — but the 77-year-old spiritual leader has yet to return to his parish, Brooklyn Daily has learned. Peter Spencer, a spokesman for Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan, explained this week that the grand jury didn’t think prosecutors had enough evidence to take Monsignor Thomas Brady to trial, stopping the case in its tracks. Yet Brady, who’s had several strokes and is currently suffering from lung cancer, won’t be returning to Good Shepherd Church on Batchelder Street anytime soon: he’s still in the trouble with the Diocese. Diocese spokeswoman Stefanie Gutierrez confirmed that Brady is still on a forced administrative leave away from his Marine Park parish and the allegations were being reviewed by a cannon lawyer, who will determine if Brady violated any church rules. Police arrested Brady last October, claiming that he attempted to perform a criminal sex act on two minors at two different times. Investigators said that one of the victims — a 13-year-old student at Good Shepherd Parochial School — was in the church rectory with Brady when the senior made several lewd comments. At one point, Brady “offered to have sex” with the minor, cops claimed. Investigators did not say that Brady had touched the child. Neither did the Diocese, which accused Brady, an FDNY chaplain with close ties to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, of having inappropriate contact with the 13-year-old, as well as a second teen. Diocese officials learned about the second attack while investigating the first. Because of Brady’s connections to Hynes, the criminal case was handed over to DA Donovan. But Good Shepherd’s faithful didn’t believe the allegations against Brady, claiming that the teens made everything up. Brady is too old and too sick to do what the teens claimed, many parishioners said. “[Brady’s] almost 80 and has had numerous strokes,” parishioner Pat Davis said following Brady’s arrest. “If he was in a nursing home, none of this would have happened.” The 13-year-old boy’s family was adamant that the attack took place, and claimed that parishioners were vilifying the teen for telling the truth. “I’m afraid for [my son],” the victim’s father said shortly after Brady’s arrest. “I don’t think they believe him.” Attempts to reach the victim’s father this week were unsuccessful. Parishioners were ecstatic with the grand jury’s findings. “It was the right decision, because he really was innocent,” said one longtime parishioner and Good Shepherd Parochial School alumnus, who wished not to be named. “I believe that it was all a big misunderstanding.” Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
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