Town Says No to Sheehan Victim Settlement

A demand for compensation from the town from a lawyer representing eight alleged victims of William Sheehan has been refused.

The Foxboro Reporter reports that the town has refused to pay an $8 million settlement, $1 million for each alleged victim represented by Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian.

“Although the Town is sympathetic to any injuries your clients may have suffered, there is no indication that the Town is in any way liable for any of the alleged conduct of Mr. Sheehan that occurred more than 34 years ago,” Town manager Bill Keegan wrote in a letter released by town council Richard Gellerman. “Consequently, the Town is without authority to pay your client(s) $1,000,000.00, or any other sum.”

In 2012, Sheehan, a former Foxboro teacher and youth leader, was first accused of molesting children decades ago. An arrest warrant was obtained in September 2012 but police were unable to make an arrest after Sheehan was found in a Florida nursing home with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

He was later deemed unfit to stand trial by a psychiatrist hired by the Norfolk County D.A.’s office.

Since the first accusation in 2012, 28 men have come forward with allegations of abuse at the hands of Sheehan.

To read the rest of the Foxboro Reporter’s story, click here.