Priest accused ofabusing minors showsface to camerasafter court issues ban

Malta Independent
August 19, 2014

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-08-19/news/priest-to-be-charged-with-molesting-children-in-gozo-6260260864/

A young priest was charged with child molestation in Gozo this afternoon, but no details of the case are forthcoming as a total ban has been imposed by the court.

The case was heard behind closed doors on the request of the priest's lawyer Carmelo Borg. Journalists present for the sitting were ordered to leave.

The priest, in plain clothes, hid his face as he was escorted up the steps leading to the Gozo courts. His attitude changed after the court sitting, as he walked down the steps without covering his face in spite of the clicking or rolling cameras, having been given protection by the magistrate.

The court, presided by Magistrate Paul Coppini, had previously ordered a ban on the publication of the priest's name and of the legal proceedings.

The priest's Facebook page has been deactivated.

The abuses are understood to have taken place over a series of months and involved a number of girls.

Two former priests were imprisoned in November 2012 after they lost their appeal against abuse convictions.
Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis, who were previously members of the Missionary Society of St Paul, were sentenced to five and six years in jail respectively for sexually abusing boys at St Joseph Home in Sta Venera.