By Tina Peplinskie
Ottawa Sun
January 8, 2008
http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2008/01/08/4757586-sun.html
PEMBROKE — A man who said he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest over a three-year period recounted details of the alleged incidents in Pembroke Superior Court yesterday.
The 44-year-old Toronto man, who can't be identified because of a publication ban, testified about abuse he claims to have suffered at the hands of retired monsignor Bernard Prince between 1976 and 1979.
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| Pembroke lawyer Chris Kell and his client, retired Pembroke-area priest Bernard Prince, leave the Pembroke courthouse yesterday at the conclusion of the first day of Prince's indecent assault trial. Photo by Tina Peplinskie |
Prince, a close friend of the man's family, faces one count of indecent assault for incidents alleged to have occurred at his cottage in Wilno, at the complainant's home in Madawaska Valley and during a week-long visit to Prince's apartment in Ottawa.
Prince and the complainant's father, who also testified yesterday, first met in high school and their friendship continued for more than 50 years.
Even after the family moved to Toronto they often returned to the Upper Ottawa Valley to visit family still living in the area and to spend time at Prince's cottage.
When the witness was 13 years old, his father arranged for him to visit Prince at the cottage.
The witness testified that after dinner one night, Prince asked for a back rub. Prince eventually removed all of his clothes, and the witness said he became uncomfortable but still continued with the back rub. The witness said he tried to find a way out of the situation after the priest suggested he remove his clothes too and sexual contact occurred.
The witness left the cottage minutes later. He said he was embarrassed and in disbelief about what had happened. Prince was in the living room when he returned about an hour later.
"He was calm as though nothing had happened," the witness said.
The incidents continued on a regular basis during the remainder of the two-week visit, the witness said.
He also claimed similar incidents occurred during a visit to the priest's apartment in Ottawa. He told the court the two shared the same bed and Prince woke him up several times during the night. After the first four nights, the witness began sleeping on the couch of the small bachelor apartment.
The final alleged incident occurred at the family's home in Toronto. The two had to share a pullout couch in the basement, the witness said, and when the priest tried to touch him, he told him off and the incidents stopped.
"I despised the man, and I'm sure that was the attitude I portrayed," he testified.
The relationship between the family and Prince ended abruptly last February.
The trial continues today.
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