Witnesses in Abuse Victims' Compensation Claims to Be Heard behind Closed Doors

Times of Malta
October 9, 2013

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131009/local/order-insists-priest-abuse-victims-compensation-claim-is-time-barred.489608#.UlUsiFCTguc

Charles Pulis and Godwin Scerri

A religious order is insisting the compensation request by 10 clerical abuse victims is time-barred and that it cannot assume responsibility for the actions of two ex-priests jailed for sexually abusing boys about 20 years ago.

The case started being heard today.

Following a request by the Missionary Society of St Paul, of which Godwin Scerri, 77, and Charles Pulis, 68, were members, the court decided that witnesses will be heard behind closed doors, but legal arguments will be in open court.

The order is arguing that it cannot accept liability for the personal actions of its members who were adults, adding it was not aware of what had been going on.

In August 2011, Mr Scerri and Mr Pulis were respectively sentenced to five and six years’ imprisonment for sexually abusing 11 boys in their care at St Joseph Home, in Santa Venera.

When proceedings started this morning, the former priests said that they did not know that they had to file their answers within 20 days and they did not have a lawyer.

They said that their lawyer would have to be legal aid and they had spoken to one yesterday.

The judge said that all he could do was to open their eyes to the seriousness of the case and that they needed a lawyer.

During the arguments on whether the case should be heard behind closed doors, counsel said the arguments were sensitive and that there were children at the MSSP who have gone through a lot and been  effected negatively because of the trial.