Key Witness in Philadelphia Abuse Trials under Scrutiny

Former altar boy Daniel Gallagher, also known as “Billy Doe,” alleged that he was sexually abused by three priests from the Philadelphia archdiocese, all of whom were convicted between 2012 and 2013. In addition, Msgr. William Lynn, a former employee of the archdiocese of Philadelphia, was convicted for endangering the welfare of a child. A recent Newsweek article intimated that Gallagher’s psychological evaluations and numerous conflicting statements might indicate he was an unreliable witness. According to Reuters, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has twice overturned the three-to-six year sentence for Lynn, the first US Catholic church official imprisoned on child endangerment charges. He remains in prison awaiting a new trial.