ALBANY, NY - The family of the victim accusing a Greene County priest of sexual abuse spoke out about the allegations as the victim now faces an attempted murder charge.
A civil lawsuit was filed against Rev. Jeremiah Nunan, 74, accusing him of sexually abusing a minor between 1996 and 2003 and again between 2007 and 2011 when the individual was an adult. Nunan has denied the allegations.
These allegations come as the victim is currently facing an attempted murder charge.
Family members and the attorney of the victim, Martin Morales, insist that this civil lawsuit is not an attempt at a sympathy grab to help out in his attempted murder case. Instead they say it's a grab for justice and to help other children in the future.
Martin and Ivan Jr. Morales are brothers, almost ten years apart, and say they share one terrible, dark bond. They say it began for both of them at the age of eight when they became alter boys for Father Nunan of Sacred Heart Parish in Cairo.
Nunan was at every major event for the Morale family. Now, their 20-year-old sister Maria says she had a feeling something was wrong and that Nunan always seemed to want to separate her and Martin.
Maria says, "I remember the first time I alter-served, he told me to go to the other room. The one with the confessional in it because he wanted to help Martin get dressed. I didn't really think anything of it at the time because I was just so young. But now when I put two and two together, something is not right. I just feel so betrayed, like you're supposed to trust these people."
As the brothers grew up, Ivan Jr. married and became a New York State Trooper. Martin's relationship with Nunan continued into adulthood.
Then in March 2011, Martin tried to kidnap his girlfriend and allegedly tried to strangle her. He is now facing a charge of attempted murder.
Martin's father claims it was after Martin's arrest that he made the discovery of thousands of dollars in checks made out by Nunan to his son. He says he confronted Nunan about the checks but he refused to acknowledge his concerns.
On Tuesday the Albany Diocese released on statement on the abuse allegations that says: "The Diocese notified Greene County District Attorney Terry J. Wilhelm on April 4, 2012, after being served with notice of a civil lawsuit accusing Nunan of sexual abuse. Nunan was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation."
This is the second time Nunan is placed on administrative leave during an investigation of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The previous allegation involved alleged abuse in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Hudson. He was later cleared of those allegations and restored to ministry.
NEWS10 ABC
