Cornwall News AM 1220
January 17, 2008 — The role of a deceased lawyer in a settlement between the church and an alleged victim is now evidence at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. It is believed lawyer Malcolm MacDonald acted for the priest in an agreement between the diocese and an alleged victim. The deal surfaced after the complainant made sex abuse allegations against a city priest. In the early 90s, the diocese agreed to pay the alleged victim $32,000 if he promised not to proceed with criminal or civil proceedings. MacDonald drafted the agreement and eventually plead guilty to an obstructing justice charge in relation to the payment. Meanwhile, in 1999, MacDonald faced sex related charges involving male minors. MacDonald died of a cadiovascular disease in Florida. That was less than a month before the sex-related charges were scheduled for a preliminary inquiry.