Archdiocese Makes Largest Payout Yet In Sex Abuse Suit: Report

PHILADELPHIA – The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has reportedly settled a sex abuse lawsuit filed against it in what is believed to be the largest payout in the Archdiocese's history.

According to Philly.com, the Archdiocese recently settled with the family of Sean McIlmail, who died of an overdose before he could testify against the now-defrocked Catholic Priest Robert L. Brennan in a criminal sex abuse case.

The exact figure of the payout is unknown, the outlet reports the family's attorneys say the settlement amount is believed to be largest yet paid by the archdiocese in an abuse case.

According to PennLive.com, Brennan is accused of sexually abusing McIlmail beginning when he was just 11 years old. McIlmail died of the overdose in 2013 at 26.

Just last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court blocked the release of a grand jury report detailing widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in six of the state's eight dioceses. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia was not included in the report.

The alleged abuse McIlmail suffered was when Brennan was a reverend at Resurrection of Our Lord parish in Northeast Philadelphia.

Brennan, 80, lives in Maryland, Philly.com reports.

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