Caldey Island historical child sex abuse review announced

Father Jan Rossey, superior at Caldey Island Abbey, commissioned the review

A Welsh abbey has commissioned an independent review into alleged historical child sex abuse.

The inquiry will be led by Jan Pickles, former assistant police and crime commissioner at South Wales Police.

It was announced by Father Jan Rossey, superior at Caldey Island Abbey.

Kevin O'Connell has campaigned since 2019 for an inquiry into allegations he and others were abused on Caldey, a small island off the coast of Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

He said the announcement was a "start", and that it had come about due to his years of campaigning and the work of the Caldey Island Survivors' Campaign, which he founded.

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The former deputy children's commissioner for Wales, Maria Battle, is the safeguarding lead for the inquiry.

Ms Battle said it was now in the process of "awaiting outcomes".

"We will recommend that the findings will be made public," she said, adding that the hope of Father Jan is "to hear from anyone affected".

"In common with many other organisations, Caldey Abbey has, in the past, received disclosures and allegations involving members of the monastic community about their behaviour towards children," Father Jan said.

"We remain dedicated to providing a secure environment with effective procedures for safeguarding all who visit, live on, or work on the island."

Claims against Thaddeus Kotik could not be investigated following his death

Dozens of people claimed they were sexually abused by a monk living on the island.

Father Thaddeus Kotik died in 1992 without facing any criminal charges into claims he abused children between 1977 and 1982.

Six of his alleged victims were compensated by Caldey Abbey in an out-of-court settlement in March 2017, and a number of others have since come forward with allegations.