Monk used tortoise to entice children into garden where he sexually abused them, review finds

A monk used a tortoise and "other treats" to entice children into a garden where he would sexually abuse them, a review has found.

The independent safeguarding review has been carried out into historic allegations of abuse on Caldey Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast, which is home to a Cistercian Order of monks.

The review, which examined allegations dating from the late 1960s to 1992, heard from a number of Father Thaddeus Kotik's victims and concluded that he had a consistent pattern in his behaviour.

The report led by consultant social worker Jan Pickles OBE concluded Kotik, who died in 1992, sexually abused girls and boys while he was a monk at the abbey. He was not interviewed, charged, or convicted over the allegations.

It said Kotik "groomed" parents by offering them gifts and help with babysitting.

The 73-page report makes a total of 12 recommendations, including ceasing informal contact between the monastic community and the public who visit the island.

Other recommendations include appointing a survivor of child sexual abuse to the island's board and that those who live and work on Caldey agree to a code of conduct.

Father Jan Rossey, the abbot of Caldey Abbey who commissioned a review into alleged historical child sex abuse by monks, said he had read the contents of the report "with deep sorrow and regret".

He said it was "clear opportunities were missed to stop the abuse of children" and that children and their families had been "failed".

"On behalf of the monastic community, I sincerely apologise to all those who have been hurt and have suffered because of the abuse of Thaddeus Kotik and past failures in not protecting children and their families," he said.

Father Rossey became the abbot on Caldey Island last year and said he was "determined to create a culture of openness and transparency".

"I thank everyone who bravely came forward to give evidence of their experience to the review and I promise that I will do my utmost to prevent abuse from ever happening again on Caldey Island," he added.

One of 16 survivors, who shared their stories with the review, told the PA news agency the review was "going in the right direction" but there was "still a lot more needed to be done".

"I think there's a lot to do before our campaign is satisfied that people will be safe," they added.

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Франция Семья и Дети

Монк Монак пыльца сад ребенок мусор средство другой