Boston ? A $10 million settlement between the Boston Archdiocese and 86 alleged victims of child-molesting priest John Geoghan won final approval Thursday, four months after the church backed out of a costlier agreement.

A $10 million check from the archdiocese was given to the plaintiffs’ attorney, Mitchell Garabedian.

The last obstacle to the settlement was removed when Superior Court Judge Constance Sweeney approved a request from a 17-year-old boy to participate in the deal.

Sweeney addressed the alleged victims who appeared in court, saying she wanted to acknowledge their pain and make clear that the settlement means the court recognizes that Geoghan did what they say he did.

“I hope you are able to recognize in yourselves not just the hurt that was done to you but your own resilience, your courage,” she said.

Donna Morrissey, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said the $10 million was paid entirely by the archdiocese’s insurance.

An earlier settlement worth up to $30 million had been announced in March, but the archdiocese backed out of that deal in May, saying it could not afford the deal because of hundreds of other lawsuits being filed.

Garabedian said the plaintiffs agreed to the lower figure because they wanted to try to put the abuse behind them.

“They want closure, and they understand that the church does not really care about their emotional well-being,” he said.