Ex Philly Catholic Priest Admits To Lying In Sex Abuse Probe

Philadelphia PA

11 November, 2021

10:42 AM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — A former priest with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia admitted to lying to authorities during an investigation into sexual abuse. Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said Robert Brennan, 83, of Perryville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about not knowing a former parishioner and victim of sexual abuse. In September 2019, Brennan was charged by Indictment with four counts of making materially false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States government. The charges stem from an April 2019 interview, during which Brennan was questioned by the FBI and made a number of false statements. Brennan had served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1993 to 2004 as a priest at Resurrection of Our Lord parish. In September 2013, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office filed criminal charges against him, alleging that he had sexually abused a minor, Sean McIlmail, during Brennan's time at Resurrection. Soon thereafter, in October 2013, McIlmail died of a drug overdose and the criminal charges against Brennan were dismissed. In November 2013, the McIlmail family filed a civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Brennan. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in May 2018. During the April 2019 interview with the FBI, Brennan made several false statements, including that prior to the filing of the 2013 criminal case and civil lawsuit against him, he did not know McIlmail, his father, mother or brother.