By Ken Maguire, Associated Press, 10/21/02

| Complete coverage |  AG'S REPORT Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly released the results of a 16-month investigation into clergy sex abuse in the Boston archdiocese. Download report [PDF, 1.4 MB] (File requires Adobe Acrobat)  TODAY'S GLOBE A new leader reaches out 3 faces in crowd bound in hopeh At BC, students watch with awe O'Malley's homily reveals frank man Near cathedral, voices of protest 'Good priests' moved to tears Text of Archbishop O'Malley's homily Sandwiches, chips were bill of fare An angry protest, and prayers  GRAPHICS The moment of installation Viewer's guide Ceremony TV coverage  Processional O'Malley's vestments O'Malley's coat of arms Cathedral of the Holy Cross  REALVIDEO | NECN.com | Help with video | O'Malley to be installed today Great expectations of O'Malley Video clips require RealPlayer and Windows 98 or higher.  INTERACTIVE FEATURE An interactive timeline of the developing church crisis, featuring photos and audio.   View timeline  IN-DEPTH Boston's new archbishop Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has been chosen to succeed Cardinal Law as leader of the archdiocese. Reaction to O'Malley appointment Accused priests are vindicated Three priests have been exonerated after being suspended from their posts over abuse allegations.  CARDINAL BERNARD LAW Coverage of his resignation Career timeline: Priest to cardinal Changing statements on abuse Coverage of his tenure in Boston Photos: Law through the years Boston.com readers' comments  CONTACT SPOTLIGHT If you have information on child abuse by priests, call (617) 929-3208 Or leave a confidential message at this number (617) 929-7483 The Spotlight Team e-mail address is spotlight@globe.com.

BOSTON -- The highest-ranking Boston Archdiocese official implicated in the clergy sex abuse crisis admitted to molesting three boys more than 20 years ago, a friend of the priest's alleged in sworn testimony filed Monday.

Monsignor Frederick J. Ryan, who was vice chancellor under Cardinal Humberto Medeiros, admitted to molesting three boys when confronted by his friend, former Boston Bruin Chris Nilan, according to Nilan's sworn testimony filed in Suffolk Superior Court.

Ryan allegedly sexually abused Garry Garland, David Carney and a third unnamed man, and maintained a sexual relationship with the unnamed man up until three years ago, Nilan said when questioned under oath in a lawsuit brought by Carney against Ryan and the archdiocese.

Nilan, 44, a friend of both Ryan and the three alleged victims, confronted Ryan after allegations surfaced earlier this year.

"I needed some answers for my own sanity," said Nilan, whose marriage ceremony was conducted by Ryan. "Having done confession with him before, I had to hold him to supposedly what his morals and values of the church were."

Nilan testified that he demanded to know if the allegations were true, and Ryan then admitted that he abused all three boys during a trip to Rhode Island. It was then that he also admitted to the longer relationship with the unnamed man, Nilan testified.

"He told me that ... he had continued a relationship with this kid up until about three years ago, a sexual relationship, which kind of floored me," Nilan said of the unnamed alleged victim.

Nilan's lawyer, Francis J. DiMento Jr., said his client "really didn't want to be involved in this" but understood his legal responsibility to testify. Dimento, asked about Nilan's specific allegations, said he had nothing to add to what was included in the deposition, and said it was unlikely that Nilan would comment himself.

Attorney Timothy P. O'Neill, who represents Ryan, and Mark C. Rogers, who represents the archdiocese in the case, did not return a call seeking comment.

Nilan said Ryan initially didn't recall who Carney was until he mentioned a tattoo that Carney got in Rhode Island, allegedly on the trip with Ryan.

Ryan was pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Kingston and head of the Plymouth Vicariate, overseeing 16 southern parishes of the Boston Archdiocese, when the charges arose. He is suspended and has in the past refused to comment.

Daniel J. Shea, attorney for Garland and Carney, took Nilan's deposition in June. He has since parted with his clients.

Garland was arrested in March after driving past Ryan's home in Revere, then fleeing by car when spotted by Chelsea police. He underwent a psychiatric evaluation after police feared he went there to hurt Ryan or himself.

Ryan was a chaplain at Catholic Memorial High School in Boston, where Nilan and Carney both played hockey, although they were nine years apart. Nilan played in the National Hockey League for 13 years. He played parts of 10 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and also played for the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.