Caldey Island: More sexual abuse claims at abbey

Caldey Island is a popular tourist attraction

A second man is being investigated over allegations of sexual abuse on Caldey Island.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the claim related to an individual who was a visitor to the island in the 1970s and 1980s.

Two more complaints have also been made about the monk Father Thaddeus Kotik.

Eleven women have accused him of abusing them on the Pembrokeshire island during the same period.

It has led to the abbot of Caldey Abbey issuing an apology after it emerged that complaints about Father Kotik were not passed to the police in 1990 by his predecessor.

Father Kotik died in 1992 without facing any criminal charges.

Detectives said the new allegations of sexual assault by a second man took place during the same time frame as the Kotik abuse.

"This is being investigated separately to the Caldey Island abuse and concerns a man who was visiting Caldey Island at the time and no longer lives there," said officers in a statement.

The police said the fresh claim was made by one of six original complainants, who were paid compensation by Caldey Abbey in an out-of-court settlement in March 2017.

But the force has refused to release any more details about the new individual, and said "it would jeopardise the investigation".

However, the police did confirm that two more women have come forward accusing Kotik of abuse.

It means eight women in total have now lodged abuse complaints with the force.

Father Thaddeus Kotik befriended children on the island

"Following the recent media reporting of sexual abuse at Caldey Island, police received two further reports of non-recent sexual abuse on November 21," said the statement.

"They relate to offences committed during the same time period (between 1977 and 1987) and with the same named perpetrator Thaddeus Kotik.

"These crimes have been recorded and officers are in contact with the victims during the investigation and to offer specialist support."

• The story behind Caldey Island

• Torment of Caldey Island abuse victim

The island's current abbot Brother Daniel van Santvoort has issued an apology over how the original complaints had been handled by his predecessor Brother Robert O'Brien in 1990.

He said: "Any allegations of child abuse should be reported to the appropriate authorities and investigated. This clearly did not happen and we apologise."

He said details were handed to the police when he was contacted by one of the victims in 2014, leading to the out-of-court settlement

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

Brother Daniel added the abbey would fully cooperate with the inquiry and any other investigation.

Detective Superintendent Anthony Griffiths said: "We have specially trained officers at Dyfed-Powys Police to investigate and support victims of non-recent abuse. If there are more victims out there who wish to report, please do so by calling the police directly.

"We cannot formally record complaints or offer support to victims based on reports via the media.

"I would say the same to anyone who has suffered abuse in the past, or is suffering today, that if they find the courage to report it, we will take it seriously and we will offer the support they require."