Records ordered sealed in priest abuse case

Chicago Tribune/August 17, 2006
By Carlos Sadovi

A Cook County judge on Thursday sealed records from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services pertaining to child sex abuse allegations against Rev. Daniel McCormack.

Because the documents contain sensitive information about juveniles, DCFS officials had asked Criminal Court Judge Thomas Sumner to determine if the documents were relevant.

Sumner chose to put a protective seal on the information barring access by anyone not directly involved in the case.

McCormack has been charged with five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with the alleged fondling of five boys at St. Agatha Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Westside School, Presentation Campus, both on the city's West Side.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Conviction on each count carries a penalty ranging from probation to 7 years in prison.

Assistant State's Atty. Kathleen Muldoon said DCFS officials had turned over nearly 1,500 pages of reports as part of their investigation into the allegations.

Muldoon told Sumner she was also turning over 28 pages of police reports relating to the two latest charges.

Police reports of the first three allegations have already been given to prosecutors and defense lawyers.

McCormack is scheduled to appear in court again Oct. 4.