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The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
New Orleans archbishop appears in court during contentious clergy sexual abuse bankruptcy case
The Catholic archbishop of New Orleans made a rare in-person appearance in federal bankruptcy court on Friday, days after announcing a potential agreement to settle claims with hundreds of clergy abuse survivors that has been met with pushback from some of the plaintiffs. 'I'm here because I'm concerned for the survivors,' Gregory Aymond said in an interview with WWL Louisiana away from the cameras after what is believed to have been his first appearance in person for an open court hearing in the five years since his archdiocese – one of the US's oldest – joined roughly 40 Catholic institutions to file for bankruptcy protection amid the worldwide church's long ongoing clergy molestation scandal. 'And we want to make sure it's reasonable expectations for what we can give them and to make sure the process proceeds.' But James Adams, a survivor of child sexual abuse by a Catholic priest stationed in New Orleans and the former chairperson of a committee representing survivors, questioned why Aymond hadn't shown up to previous hearings. 'If he was concerned for survivors, truly, I think there would have been a lot of things done differently from the beginning, unfortunately,' Adams said. Aymond also acknowledged that the bankruptcy he filed for the archdiocese on 1 May 2020 has dragged on too long and prevented abuse survivors from being compensated. 'We want that wait to end as soon as possible,' Aymond said. '[Survivors] have had terrible crimes committed against them, and we want to make sure to respect them and the pain they've been through. One way to do that is to expedite negotiations.' Aymond declined to answer additional questions or to comment on camera outside the courthouse. He didn't say anything in court on Friday either – but sat and listened quietly from the gallery as attorneys representing about 200 of the 600 abuse claimants blasted the settlement plan proposed days earlier, including one who called the deal 'dead on arrival'. Since the basic outline of the proposed settlement was announced on Wednesday, proponents and opponents have been jockeying for position and laying the groundwork for a vote by all claimants to confirm or reject it, which is expected this fall. Two-thirds of everyone making a claim in the church's bankruptcy must agree to the settlement terms for it to be finalized. The full details of the deal proposed on Wednesday haven't been presented yet. But it would provide $130m in cash and up to $110m more from insurance carriers and potential church property sales. That's about $100m short of a similar church bankruptcy case in Long Island, New York, cited by both sides as a good precedent for the New Orleans case, which was recently settled and finalized for $323m. The Long Island settlement, between the archdiocese of Rockville Centre and about 600 abuse survivors, netted the claimants there an average of about $540,000. Under the terms disclosed this week, survivors in New Orleans would get between $300,000 and $383,000 per claim, on average. The amount paid to each claimant depends on a formula based on the severity and evidence of abuse, among other factors. Even after five years, both the church and negotiating survivors say they still need more time to hammer out details before bringing the proposed agreement to an official vote of all 600 survivors and other creditors. The attorneys who spoke against the proposal in court on Friday – Soren Gisleson and Taylor Townsend – said they and associated attorneys represent more than 180 survivors, and they believe there are others who are as dedicated to voting to stop the deal. They hope to return their clients' cases to individual lawsuits for damages against the church in state court, which were stopped five years ago when the church sought bankruptcy protection. 'This deal is never going to get passed,' Gisleson said in front of Judge Meredith Grabill. 'They don't have the votes. And they're never going to get the votes.' Jim Stang, the lead attorney for the survivors' committee that negotiated the proposed deal, bristled at those assertions, saying he's handled many other complex bankruptcies, including the Rockville Centre archdiocese on Long Island – and the proposal this week was something the two sides could build on. 'This is far from over. This is a starting point,' Stang said. In an interview with WWL, Adams said: 'The starting point, if my math is correct, was five years ago.' Rick Kuebel, another attorney for the survivors' negotiating committee, estimated it could be late August before a final plan could be presented for a vote. It would then take two months to properly notify survivors and hold a vote, attorneys said Friday. Judge Grabill suggested an accelerated timeframe might be possible, and Kuebel said that could bring a final settlement to a vote by September at the earliest. Douglas Draper, attorney for the church's parishes, schools and other affiliates, suggested checks could go out to survivors in the first quarter of 2026 if a plan is approved.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Search to reunite family of Hamilton soldier with historic watch
The pocket watch was presented in 1874 by 16th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers to their colour sergeant The owner of a 150-year-old watch presented to a Hamilton-based soldier by his comrades is hoping to reunite the historic item with any dedcendants of its recipient. Members of the 16th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers presented the silver pocket watch and chain to Colour Sergeant James Adams, complete with inscription that it was given 'by the men of A company, as a mark of respect, on 4th December 1874, Hamilton'. It later came into the possession of young national serviceman David Graham in the late 1950s and is now being looked after by his widow Edith, who has used newspaper searches and 19th-century census records to try to discover more about its original owner. David completed his national service with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots from 1958 to 1960, and was posted to Germany aged 21 when he unexpectedly ended up with the watch. Edith said: 'All we know is that somebody had approached him when he was there – not somebody he knew, but who maybe knew the troop – who needed money and gave him the watch as surety that he'd get back what he loaned him, but who then never came back. 'We've had it ever since then and don't know more than that; I've Googled and Googled to find out what I can but with a reasonably common name I haven't been able to find out about James Adams who the watch was presented to. It's a mystery I would love to be solved so that the watch could be returned to descendants of his own family.' The watch was already around 85 years old when it came to be with David, who sadly died in the 1990s, and has stayed with his family ever since; but Edinburgh resident Edith has been trying 'for some time' to find information which would allow her to return it to those connected with Colour Sergeant Adams. Her research has included archive newspaper searches through Hamilton library and checking national census records dating back to 1871 in search of Lanarkshire residents of the same name and likely ages to be the watch's owner; as well as learning from an antiques expert that the hallmarked silver can be traced to London in 1874. The regiment of 16th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers was renumbered as the 2nd in 1880, and later became the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Edith told Lanarkshire Live: 'The men in the regiment must have put together and it was probably a lot of money then; it would be nice if family members could have it and to think that their great-great-grandfather or relative was so well thought of. 'I've been trying for some time to trace descendants and have searched various ways to find information but had no luck; the regiment was based in Hamilton but I haven't been able to find anything out about the right person. 'The glass in the watch is yellowing but the chain and the key to wind it up are there, so it could be cleaned up and fixed and it would be a nice thing for relatives to have.' Anyone who can help in reuniting the watch with descendants of Colour Sergeant Adams can contact news@ * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
Cambrian News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cambrian News
Game of Thrones star Jerome Flynn surprises Pembrokeshire couple on wedding day
Newly wed couple James Adams and Ashleigh Cole had just tied the knot at the beautiful setting of Crug Glâs Country House located at Croesgoch, St David's, and were posing for photos at Abereiddi when the actor, renowned for his portrayal of Bronn in the fantasy series Game of Thrones [with the most infamous episode of the epic show known to its fanbase as 'The Red Wedding'] strolled by in his flip-flops with his pet pooch, and wished them 'congratulations' - before happily joining them for a pic.
Irish Independent
26-04-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Wexford village marks anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising
Proceedings on the day were opened by Oulart Hill Chairman Chris Furlong who introduced James Adams who sang a beautiful rendition of the song 'Grace.' This song was named after one of the Gifford sisters who married Joseph Plunkett just a few hours before his death and never married afterwards. Sean Dempsey then took up centre stage and read out the names of the 35 Oulart volunteers. This was then followed by a powerful reading of the 1916 Proclamation. Barry Leacy, a Ballycarney historian and archaeologist, read his own encouraging address called 'The importance of the Past in the Present.' Councillor Mary Farrell, whose grandfathers were in Enniscorthy with the Oulart company, stepped up to the microphone to deliver a haunting rendition of 'Meet me at the Pillar' before rounding it out with the national anthem. "This is always a proud day for my family as both grandfathers John Hayden and James Dempsey are listed on the monument and remembered with the other men named for their bravery at that crucial time of Irish history. It was once again a privilege to be asked to sing at the event,' she said. In attendance was also Minister James Browne, Cllr Pip Breen, Rev James Hammel of the Uacthtarán Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society, and Willie French of the Wexford Historical Society. Refreshments and tarts were then provided to the crowd in the Storytelling House by Eileen Dempsey, where visitors were also treated to a showing of a new video centred on the 1798 rising.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
YFN Lucci Released From Prison After Serving 4 Years, Placed On Parole Until 2031
YFN Lucci is officially a free man after serving nearly four years in prison. According to Channel 2 Action News, the Georgia Department of Corrections confirmed that the Atlanta rapper, born Rayshawn Bennett, was released from Burress Correctional Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia, on Friday (Jan. 31). He has reportedly been placed on parole until January 2031. Lucci was initially arrested in January 2021 in connection to a murder case. Authorities alleged that he was behind the wheel during a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of his associate, James Adams, 28. According to prosecutors, Adams was shot during the altercation and later pushed out of the moving vehicle, suffering fatal injuries on the street in front of witnesses. After being released on bond, Lucci's was arrested again in 2021 on a RICO charge and was stabbed by another inmate at Fulton County Jail the following year. After nearly three years served, the 'Everyday We Lit' rapper secured a victory in 2024 when 12 of the 13 charges against him were dropped—including the murder charge. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of violating Georgia's Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and upon sentencing expressed remorse. 'My heart goes out to my friend, James Adams, and his family,' Lucci stated in court at the time of sentencing. 'I also want to apologize to my family and my friends for putting them through this stressful process. I would also like to apologize to the court.' Lucci was sentenced to 20 years, with 10 years to serve in prison and 10 years of probation. His time behind bars was counted as time served, making him eligible for parole in May 2024. As part of his parole conditions, the 33-year-old reportedly must 'live with his mother, undergo regular drug testing, avoid gang associations, and refrain from any gang-related activities.' He is also 'prohibited from possessing firearms and must seek permission before leaving the state.' The rapper's early release surprisingly received support from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who penned a letter to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles advocating for his release. Intervention attorney, Drew Findling, described the gesture a 'powerful punch' in the case. On Instagram, Lucci shared a heartfelt video of his homecoming, including glimpses of his children, family and friends all excited to see him. See below. More from YFN Lucci Receives Early Release Co-Sign As 2020 Shooting Footage Emerges Lil Wayne May Have To Testify About Young Thug Beef At YSL Trial YFN Lucci Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison, 10 Years Probation
