Caldey Island: Monk abuse apology angers victims

Father Thaddeus Kotik befriended children on the island

An apology by Caldey Abbey for failing to report a paedophile monk to police has angered victims abused by him as children on a Pembrokeshire island.

In total, 11 women have accused Father Thaddeus Kotik of abusing them on Caldey Island in the 1970s and 1980s.

The current abbot, Brother Daniel van Santvoort, apologised for how complaints were handled.

But one of the women involved said his claims that he knew nothing about the abuse until 2014 were not true.

Charlotte, who is the lead plaintiff in a civil action against the abbey, which is based on the island off Tenby, said Brother Daniel previously told her he had suspected Father Thaddeus abused children and even confronted him.

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His predecessor, Brother Robert O'Brien, failed to pass on complaints to police when they were originally made in 1990, two years before Father Thaddeus died in 1992.

Brother Daniel said he offered one victim pastoral support in 2010, but did not refer her complaints about the abuse to the police, and at "no point considered there would be other victims of abuse".

It was in 2014, when another victim made allegations that he referred them to police.

Caldey Island is a popular tourist attraction

Charlotte, who now lives in Sydney, Australia, said when Brother Daniel met her in 2014, he disclosed he thought Father Thaddeus was a paedophile.

"The abbot told us - in front of a witness - that he himself suspected that Father Thaddeus was a paedophile and that he confronted him," she said.

"He told us Father Thaddeus' response was 'you're not being charitable' and it ended at that."

Charlotte said the abbot then shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands out as if to say "he had tried but could do nothing more".

Details were passed on to police following allegations made that year, with an out-of-court settlement following.

Claims against Kotik could not be investigated following his death in 1992

She described victims reporting abuse "many times" before this to parents, school staff and the former abbot, with no "effective investigation" following.

"It all fell on deaf, religious ears. No one wanted to hear these words. No-one. It's too uncomfortable for everyone," she said.

"We were told 'please go away girls and stop saying such disgusting things'."

She said the abbey claimed the women were out of time to take action due to time limits legislation, and called this "unfair".

"To argue that we didn't come forward before our 21st birthday is obviously incorrect - and we all have documentation to support this," Charlotte added.

"It is so, so evil to use a legal, outdated loophole - which is being banned elsewhere - against us."

She added: "It is not a shame, or a tragedy, it is an outrage and it has to stop."

'Hollow apology'

She also questioned why Brother Daniel failed to to go to police when her cousin Adele made allegations in 2010.

When approached by BBC Wales Brother Daniel clarified that he gave Adele pastoral support, but did not refer her complaints about the abuse to the police.

He said: "I sincerely apologise for this omission and ask that anyone who may have concerns to report them to the police."

Meanwhile, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed on Thursday two more people had reported offences by Father Thaddeus between 1977 and 1987.

They are also investigating allegations of a separate sexual assault by a visitor to Caldey Island that was reported by one of the original six victims.

The parents of another alleged victim, Emily, demanded an apology from Brother Daniel, claiming he failed to get back to them after they contacted him.

Emily's mother said claims the abbey was "truly sorry" were inconsistent with behaviour as women sought acknowledgement of offences, an apology and compensation.

Emily said Brother Daniel's statement was not an apology for the abuse but for not reporting crimes to the authorities.

"I have not received any empathy or support from him in any shape or form - in fact, only hostility and unkindness," she said.

Her mother has kept a letter from the previous abbot Brother Robert O'Brien for nearly 30 years as evidence.

In it, he promised to tell parents about the risk Father Thaddeus posed. He hoped school teachers would then be persuaded not to report him.

Emily's mother has called on Brother Daniel to meet her and discuss what has happened.

Another of the six plaintiffs said she would try to take the apology at face value but it was a shame that it came so late.

"One wonders if it is genuine or a result of being 'backed into a corner' by the extensive media coverage and concern about the impact to revenue from tourism," she said.