Another adult survivor of child sexual abuse has filed a lawsuit against the CLRG Irish dance organization in New Jersey.

Both the plaintiff and defendants are anonymous. The plaintiff, going by James Doe, alleges he was sexually abused when he was minor by “D.I.,” a now-deceased New Jersey resident, and “Tom Doe,” who, according to the lawsuit, is “believed to be a resident of Ireland.”

IrishCentral.com reports other named defendants include the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA), the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Southern Region and the IDTANA-Eastern Region, in addition to An Coimisiun Le Rince Gaelacha (CLRG), which is the oldest and biggest Irish dance governing entity worldwide. The lawsuit says D.I. and Tom Doe were CLRG-accredited Irish dance instructors and judges.

Adult Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse Allegations

The lawsuit alleges James Doe suffered sexual abuse by D.I.that began around 1984. James Doe attended Irish dance practices held at a New Jersey home that included a “private dance studio” in the basement. James alleges the abuse occurred at that home and at local Irish dance competitions throughout New Jersey and New York.

The late D.I. also allegedly assaulted James at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Limerick, Ireland back in 1986.

The assaults allegedly included “hugging and grabbing” James Doe on the buttocks both inside and outside of his shorts.

Tom Doe allegedly began sexually abusing James around the summer of 1987. In the lawsuit, Tom Doe is accused of committing sexual abuse, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress involving  James multiple times at a private home in Bergen County, New Jersey and at isolated areas during Irish dance competitions held throughout the Eastern U.S. through 1988.

According to IrishCentral.com, the collection of named entities in the suit are accused of vicarious liability; negligence; negligent hiring, training, accreditation and supervision; and the failure to detect, investigate and report sexual abuse.

The lawsuit was filed after a New Jersey law went into effect that provides an adult survivor of child sexual abuse the ability to file a civil lawsuit against abusers and the entities that allegedly protected them at the time the abuse occurred even if the statute of limitations had already expired. The two-year look-back window leaves the door open for more lawsuits to be filed against predators and their protectors, all of whom had been unable to be held accountable for their perverse actions under the old law.

IrishCentral.com reported on two other sexual abuse lawsuits filed in December that allege John Doe and Pat Doe were minors who were sexually abused by their Irish dance teachers. The lawsuits allege a male teacher identified as “D.T” abused them, and is named in a third lawsuit by plaintiff Jack Doe.

John Doe alleges dancing entities should have known D.T. was sexually abusing minors because he openly solicited sex with minors on a social networking site in 2016 that the defendants were told about.

John Doe alleges D.T. attempted to forcibly kiss him, restraining him until John Doe finally broke free and ran.

Pat Doe says in his lawsuit that he also was the victim of sexual abuse by both D.T. and D.I. throughout the 1980s.

The CLRG posted a statement on its website, saying in part, “In response to recent allegations and documents circulated online and in the media, CLRG is currently carrying out a comprehensive internal investigation… These allegations, if proven true, are of extremely grave concern and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action immediately.”

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.