Male Irish dance teachers are accused of sexually abusing minors in two of the lawsuits that were re-filed in New Jersey on December 4.
Two Irish dancing sexual abuse lawsuits filed in Bergen County, New Jersey on December 4 were obtained by IrishCentral on December 5.
The two lawsuits allege that John Doe and Pat Doe, both minors at the time, were sexually abused by male Irish dance teachers.
D.T., who is named in the initial Jack Doe lawsuit obtained by IrishCentral, is also named in the remaining two lawsuits.
You can read the previous report here.
John Doe's sexual assault lawsuit
John Doe’s sexual assault lawsuit, similar to Jack Doe’s lawsuit, names CLRG (An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha), IDTANA (The Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America), the Mid Atlantic Region, a male Irish dance teacher under the pseudonym “D.T.,” and an Irish dance school under the pseudonym “ABC Irish Dance school.”
John Doe’s additionally names the Southern Region as a defendant.
As in Jack Doe’s lawsuit, D.T. is characterized as a male Irish dance teacher who is a resident of New Jersey. “ABC School of Irish dance” is described as "a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey providing instruction in Irish dance to students in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland and with a business address in the State of New Jersey. "
John Doe’s lawsuit alleges that the defendants “knew or should have known of D.T.’s history of sexually abusing minors.”
The suit also alleges “upon information and belief, in approximately June 2016, Defendants were made aware of a social networking account that D.T. used to openly solicit sex with minors.” The defendants are accused of failing to properly investigate the matter or turn it over to the authorities.
The suit alleges that John Doe attended a “regional Irish dance competition” in July 2016 which was held at the Orlando Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida.
D.T. is accused of purchasing alcohol for John Doe and other minors who were “participating in the dance competition and staying at the hotel.”
D.T. allegedly took John Doe “outside of the hotel to a more desolate area with the pretense of speaking to him in private to console him.”
While hugging John Doe, D.T. is accused of attempting to kiss John Doe. John Doe said “No” and when D.T. said “Please?” John Doe allegedly told him that he is “not gay.”
D.T., restraining John Doe in a “bear hug,” allegedly said, “you don’t have to be gay to kiss me.”
While allegedly still restraining John Doe, D.T. tried to kiss his lips, but John Doe turned his head. D.T. then allegedly proceeded to stick his tongue in John Doe’s ear and licked it while saying “You like this, you want this.”
John Doe told D.T. he “did not like or want any of it.”
D.T., still restraining John Doe, applied more pressure to his back with his arm in order to keep John Doe pressed against him. D.T. is accused of reaching into John Doe’s genital area underneath his cargo shorts, but when he could not get under the waistband, he allegedly proceeded to grope John Doe through his shorts.
John Doe eventually broke free and fled the area.
As a result of the alleged incident, the plaintiff claims to have experienced “pain and suffering as an adult, substance abuse, social isolation, educational adjustment problems, mood swings, low self esteem, sexual identity problems, relationship and intimacy problems with women, suicidal ideation, lack of trust in people feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness about the way he dresses, family discord, medical expenses, emotional trauma, diminished childhood, diminished enjoyment of life, costs of counseling, and lost wages.”
Nine counts are listed in John Doe’s lawsuit:
First Count: D.T. intentionally initiated sexual abuse of John Doe, a minor at the time of the incident.
Second Count: D.T. accused of assault and battery
Third Count: D.T. accused of intentional infliction of emotional distress upon John Doe
Fourth Count: D.T. accused of false imprisonment
Fifth Count: ABC School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Southern Region are accused of “vicarious liability” for the actions of D.T.
Sixth Count: ABC School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Southern Region are accused of “Negligence” in failing to supervise and keep safe John Doe while away from home, failing to enforce certain protocols to prevent the sexual abuse of minors, failing to adequately monitor the activities of dance instructors like D.T., “creating a culture of permissiveness” that allowed adults to prey on minors, and “creating a culture where adults could give alcohol to minors such as John Doe and sexually assault them.”
Seventh Count: ABC School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Southern Region are accused of “negligent hiring, training, accreditation, and supervision.” The groups are accused of not properly investigating D.T. when he applied to become a dance teacher, and for not firing and removing him from Irish dance after allegations came to light. Further, the groups are alleged “train agents, servants and/or employees on investigation, detection, and reporting of sexual abuse allegations.”
Eighth Count: ABC School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Southern Region are accused of the “failure to detect, investigate and report sexual abuse.”
Pat Doe's sexual assault lawsuit
While the John Doe and Jack Doe lawsuits happen in more recent years, the Pat Doe lawsuit alleges incidents that occurred in the 1980s.
Pat Doe’s lawsuit also names another offender, who is now deceased, and is only referred to by the pseudonym “D.I.” Pat Doe’s lawsuit also involves another school, only referred to as “XYZ School of Irish dance.” It also names the Mid America Region as a defendant.
Alleged offender D.I. was a resident of New Jersey before his death. D.I. “was acting as an agent, servant and / or employee of Defendant XYZ School of Irish dance,” which is a corporation providing instruction in Irish dance to students in New York and New Jersey.
At the time of the alleged incidents, Pat Doe was minor.
Pat Doe's lawsuit alleges that the defendants should have known D.T. and D.I. were a danger to minors.
Pat Doe alleges he was sexually abused as a minor by both D.T. and D.I. “on multiple occasions.”
D.I. is accused of sexually abusing Pat Doe twice during the summer of 1985 during private lessons in a New Jersey residence that contained a “private dance studio” in the basement.
D.I. is accused of sexually abusing Pat Doe over Thanksgiving weekend in 1985 during an Irish dance competition that was held at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York.
D.T. is accused of sexually abusing Pat Doe in March 1986 at the Irish Dance World Championships in Limerick, Ireland.
D.T. is accused of sexually abusing Pat Doe in July 1986 at a National Competition held in Syracuse, New York, and again in July 1987 at a National Competition held in Chicago, Illinois.
In both the summers of 1988 and 1989, D.T. is accused of sexually abusing Pat Doe at a private residence in River Edge, New Jersey.
As a result of the alleged sexual abuse incidents, Pat Doe claims to have suffered “physical harm and continues to suffer extreme emotional distress and other damages.”
Additionally, Pat Doe claims to have experienced "pain and suffering as an adolescent and an adult, substance abuse, social isolation, educational adjustment problems, mood swings, low self-esteem, sexual identity problems, relationship and intimacy problems, suicidal ideation, lack of trust in people, feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness about the way he dresses, diminished enjoyment of life, costs of counseling, and lost wages."
Eight Counts are listed in Pat Doe’s lawsuit:
First Count: D.T. is accused of intentionally initiating sexual contact with Pat Doe, a minor at the time
Second Count: D.T. is accused of assault and battery
Third Count: D.T. is accused of the intentional infliction of emotional distress
Fourth Count: ABC School of Irish dance, XYZ School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Mid America region are accused of “vicarious liability” for the actions of D.T. and D.I.
Fifth Count: ABC School of Irish dance, XYZ School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Mid America Region are accused of “Negligence” in failing to supervise and keep safe Pat Doe while away from home, failing to enforce certain protocols to prevent the sexual abuse of minors, failing to adequately monitor the activities of dance instructors like D.T. and D.I., “creating a culture of permissiveness” that allowed adults to prey on minors like Pat Doe.
Sixth Count: ABC School of Irish dance, XYZ School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Mid America Region are accused of “Negligent hiring, training, accreditation, and supervision” of D.T. and D.I.
Seventh Count: ABC School of Irish dance, XYZ School of Irish dance, CLRG, IDTANA, the Mid Atlantic Region and the Mid America Region are accused of failing to “detect, investigate, and report sexual abuse.”
Eighth Count: Punitive Damages are sought from the defendants.
On December 5, one of the lawyers at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP confirmed that the next steps in proceedings will involve serving the lawsuits. A page on the Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP website encourages "IDTANA Sexual Assault Victims" to reach out for a free consultation.
If you have any information about the sexual assault allegations with the competitive Irish dancing community, you are urged to reach out to your local authorities immediately.
If you have a story about sexual assault within competitive Irish dancing that you want to be highlighted, email [email protected]. Sources can be kept anonymous where preferred.
