Three underage boys attending a vocation group were allegedly defiled by a 44-year-old priest who was entrusted with their care, a magistrate heard yesterday.

Fr Donald Bellizzi, who lives at a convent in Rabat, allegedly committed the crimes between 2010 and 2013, when the alleged victims were still minors. They are now aged between 18 and 19.

He appeared in court under arrest and denied defiling three underage boys, participating in sexual acts with them and being in possession of child pornography.

Action was taken, without prejudice, to safeguard all parties

Police inspector Joseph Busuttil told the court the alleged abuse took place while the children were entrusted to the priest’s care and attended a group that encouraged them to become priests.

The group was composed of five boys, but only three of them made allegations about Fr Bellizzi’s sexual behaviour.

Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco told Magistrate Josette Demicoli her client was strongly contesting the charges being brought against him.

She asked for a ban on the publication of the priest’s name, but this was turned down after the court saw no reason at law to uphold the request. The magistrate upheld a request for a ban on the publication of the name of the convent where Fr Bellizzi lives, however, as well as the names of his three victims.

Police inspector John Spiteri objected to a request for bail due to the vulnerability of the witnesses in the case and also because of the possibility that evidence would be tampered with.

He said the witnesses all lived in the vicinity of Rabat and some witnesses were priests at Fr Bellizzi’s same convent.

Dr de Marco said her client was prepared to move out of the Rabat convent and live with his parents in Gżira until the case was heard.

The prosecution said that until last week, Fr Bellizzi regularly visited the family of one of the youths. It said that the priest sent several text messages to one of the mothers asking why they were not speaking him and why communication had suddenly stopped. Similar messages were also sent by the priest’s sister, the court heard.

Dr de Marco said the alleged abuse took place between two and four years ago and there was no evidence that her client had tampered with any evidence in all this time. Moreover, her client had replied to all questions asked by the police.

Magistrate Demicoli, however, turned down the request for bail in view of the possibility of tampering with the prosecution’s evidence. Fr Bellizzi was escorted to the Corradino prison.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Church Commission for the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults confirmed that this case had been forwarded to the police for investigation.

“While upholding the presumption of innocence, and irrespective of the outcome of the court case, action was taken, without prejudice, to safeguard all parties. This was done in consultation with the Provincial of the respective Religious Order,” it said.