"Staying Silent Was Never an Option': Alleged Victims of Priest Speak out

By Paul Bibby
Sydney Morning Herald
January 25, 2013

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/staying-silent-was-never-an-option-alleged-victims-of-priest-speak-out-20130125-2dauq.html

Nikki Wells ... free to be named. Photo: Simon Alekna

Two alleged victims of child sexual abuse by the now-retired Catholic priest Father Finian Egan have had the suppression of their names lifted so they can talk publicly about their experiences.

Nikki Wells and Kelly-Anne Roache are among four people who were allegedly abused by Father Egan between 1972 and 1987 while he worked at parishes in Sydney and on the central coast.

Father Egan was arrested in April last year and charged with 17 child sex offences.

He denies the charges and is expected to face trial later this year.

On Friday, the Downing Centre District Court heard that Ms Wells and Ms Roche had requested that the standard prohibition on the publishing of names of alleged victims of sexual abuse be lifted in their case.

Ms Wells, who is a founding member of the child sex abuse survivors group, Project Kidsafe, told Fairfax Media she and Ms Roache had asked for the suppression to be lifted so they could talk openly about their experiences.

"Staying silent was never an option for me really," Ms Wells said.

"The church forced me into silence for 35 years, but now people need to know."

Father Egan is the former priest of NSW Attorney-General, Greg Smith.

Mr Smith has been criticised for continuing to support Father Egan despite the charges against him.