People who minimise abuse should be held accountable, NGO says after Gozo case

Updated 9pm with parliamentary secretary's comments below.

Individuals who enable child abusers to remain undetected and minimise the abuse deserve to be held accountable, an NGO that is committed to the safeguarding of children and youth insisted on Sunday.

The Lisa Maria Foundation made its comments after the Sunday Times of Malta reported that the Gozo diocese said it had no comment to make in the wake of a court judgment which confirmed a priest, Fr Michael Said, brokered a deal for a Nadur family to be paid €7,000 in order to drop their claim that their 14-year-old daughter had been raped by the brothers of an MP. 

The foundation said it was disgusted that, once again, a person who held a position of trust had abused that trust by encouraging a family to accept money to keep quiet about the alleged rape and abuse of their daughter.

"As if childhood abuse is not traumatic enough, individuals like these further allow the abusers to remain undetected and minimise the abuse of children. They too deserve to be held accountable for their role in not stopping abuse in its midst," the foundation said.

It observed that this report told a gruesome account of alleged childhood abuse and highlighted how previous loopholes in the law might have contributed to the police not being able to prosecute without the victim’s consent. 

"Whilst the report mentions that such instances are now ex officio crimes and can now be prosecuted, this report raises the issue of how many times the law works in favour of the perpetrators and not victims of abuse. The lengthy, drawn out court proceedings cause victims to be re-victimised and re-live their traumas repeatedly, with some cases going on decades as was mentioned in this case.

"Additionally, the nature of childhood abuse is so complex, as can be seen in this case, with interference of third parties, pressures on families and trauma of the victim."

Remove all legal loopholes, time barring

The foundation said it had long been emphasising that there is a need to remove time-barring for child abuse cases.

"Victims of childhood abuse have already been through one of the cruellest and life-changing ordeals. They deserve to seek justice in a way that is dignified and heal in a manner and time that is sensitive to their journey. We must create a system free of loopholes, where those who perpetrate abuse or cover it up are held accountable and where justice really does prevail," the foundation insisted.

Such matters cannot be swept under the carpet - parliamentary secretary

The parliamentary secretary for equality, Rebecca Buttigieg, also expressed her 'shock' over the case.

"Child rape is one of the worst forms of abuse one can suffer. It leaves a permanent mark on the victims and their families. Just as bad are manoeuvres to hide such acts, including buying silence and omertà. It would be wrong to allow such matters to be swept under the carpet," the parliamentary secretary said in a Facebook post.

She said that every member of society should understand the harm suffered by the victims and the people's anger when somebody thinks he should try to obscure the abuse.