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Vol. 50 | No. 2 | January 12, 2024
Board game becomes part of Southborough’s history
Three brothers allege sexual abuse at St. John’s in mid-1960s
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
PHOTO/EVAN WALSH
Robert M. Hoatson stands in front of St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury.
By Evan Walsh Reporter
SOUTHBOROUGH – History can be found all over the Southborough Library — on the shelves, on the walls, in cabinets. Even in the bottom of a box of donations. While sorting through the box that an anonymous donor had dropped off about a year ago, library staff came across a “Monopoly”-style game board depicting local businesses. This “Game of Southborough” came with game pieces, rules, play money — even dice. It also had a message from Southborough Organization for Schools, the game’s sponsor. The game was produced sometime Board game | 12
Sexual abuse | 4
Funding sought for Town Hall security upgrades By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – Security upgrades could be on the horizon for Town Hall. According to documents provided for the Capital Improvement Plan, Town Hall currently has a fire alarm but no burglar alarm, access control or security cameras. “The building is used frequently during off hours to permit committee meetings to occur, and doors are left unlocked without municipal representation. The lack of accountability for personnel within the building creates a liability,” according to documents within the CIP. “Recently, there have been several incidents at municipal buildings which validate this request.” As part of the Capital Improvement Plan for the 2025 fiscal year, the town is requesting a transfer from free cash of $89,813 to install ac-
PHOTO/LAURA HAYES
SHREWSBURY – Three brothers, two of whom attended St. John’s High School in the mid-1960s, say that St. John’s religion teacher Richard “Dick” Doyle sexually abused them while they were children. On Jan. 3, Robert M. Hoatson, the co-founder and president of Road to Recovery Inc., and attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who is representing the brothers, participated in a press conference. “Richard Doyle knew no bounds,” said Garabedian. “Where were the Xaverian Brothers, and why didn’t they protect these innocent children from a sexual predator?” During the press conference, two of the brothers — who chose to remain anonymous — detailed their experience while at St. John’s High School. Each brother said they were sexually abused repeatedly; one brother reported being abused 25-plus times. The children were 16, 15, and 9 years old at the time of the abuse, and some of Doyle’s illicit activity occurred inside the family home. Doyle “worked his way into [the victim’s] family,” according to the brothers. The victims
This 1980s-era “Game of Southborough” came from an anonymous donor about a year ago. The Southborough Library will be adding it to its history collection.
The town is requesting a transfer from free cash to install access control and security cameras at Town Hall.
cess control and security cameras at Town Hall. The project is estimated to total $129,812.58, with state funds covering part of the costs. The request was filed by the town’s Emergency Management Division, which is headed Upgrades | 12
PHOTO/MAUREEN SULLIVAN