Calls for inquiry after monastery abuse claims
THE CHILDREN’S Commissioner for Wales is set to write to a monastery on a holy island after historic sex abuse claims surfaced against a monk.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed it received reports of historical sexual abuse by a monk on Caldey Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast.
It has been reported that six women were paid compensation in an out-of-court settlement.
The allegations, dating between the 1970s and 1980s, were against Father Thaddeus Kotik who lived on the holy island for 45 years.
Now Children’s Commissioner for Wales Sally Holland has urged other victims to contact police and said she would meet faith leaders to discuss child protection and children’s rights.
Prof Holland said: “In light of this recent news, I will be writing to the monastery on Caldey Island for further information about their child protection systems.”
Campaign group the Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors are calling for an independent inquiry.
Spokeswoman Jo Kind said: “There would have been a lot of people who knew about Father Thaddeus.
“The people that have been abused in this way deserve an independent inquiry so the truth of what happened is fully exposed. They need to know who knew what and when.”
The women launched civil proceedings in August last year claiming personal injuries after abuse by Kotik.
Official court documents said Kotik offended against the six girls between 1972 and 1987.
Kotik was a former soldier in the Free Polish army in the Second World War before moving to the island in 1947.
He was ordained as a priest in 1956 and lived on the island until his death in 1992.
Kotik was never questioned by police because they were not informed until 2014.