November 03, 2005

Fr. Fortune victim regrets not telling his story sooner

IRELAND
The Argus

Exclusive By Margaret Roddy

Peter, whose ordeal at the hands of Fr Fortune is detailed in the Ferns Inquiry, was just a thirteen year old Dundalk school boy when he came in contact with the notorious paedaeophile through a group called 'Youth Encounter'.

"It was a very enjoyable group and I loved going to it," he recalls."

A priest came along to help with the running of it, and his name was Fr Sean. He was very nice, very friendly and just seemed to take a shine to me. The next thing I knew, I came home from school one day and he was sitting in the living room and he got friendly with my family."

A retreat weekend was planned for Bellurgan and the young people were told that they would be staying with families out there.

"When I got there, there was no family for me, and I now wonder if there was never a family for me," says Peter.

Posted by kshaw at November 3, 2005 02:17 PM