A man known as CA, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been awarded £170,000 in damages after claiming he was groomed and abused by Father Malachy Finegan at a County Down school between 1979 and 1985.

The settlement was reached at the High Court yesterday and relates to historic physical and sexual assaults inflicted by Finegan, who died in 2002.

The 57-year-old will also receive a written apology from Archbishop Eamon Martin, head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, on behalf of the Diocese.

The settlement does not involve any admission of liability by either defendant.

CA brought the case against the Diocese of Dromore and the Board of Governors at St Colman’s College in Newry, alleging they failed to protect him from abuse.

“Malachy Finegan took a vulnerable boy at a vulnerable time in my life, groomed me and then abused me for his own pleasure,” CA said.

He claimed the abuse took place while Finegan was supposed to be providing ‘pastoral care’.

It was alleged that Finegan carried out a long campaign of child sexual abuse but was never prosecuted or questioned by police about the claims against him.

In 2018, it emerged that the Diocese of Dromore had previously settled a claim made by another of Finegan’s alleged victims.

The Board of Governors at St Colman’s has condemned all forms of abuse by Finegan, who served as its president.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Rooney was told the action was to be stayed on agreed terms, which include the plaintiff’s legal costs being covered.

Claire McKeegan, solicitor at Phoenix Law who represented CA, confirmed: “The terms of the settlement include a payment of £170,000 in damages.”

Speaking outside court after the settlement, CA said:

“I’ve suffered high levels of anxiety, nightmares and PTSD, and it almost cost me my marriage and family.”

Four other legal actions relating to alleged abuse by Finegan were adjourned until later this week.