MOST Abuse Victims Come Forward As Adults

9 News
August 21, 2014

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/08/21/12/24/most-abuse-victims-come-forward-as-adults

The vast majority of victims of pedophile priests came forward as adults many years after the abuse, the child abuse royal commission has heard.

Only three victims have gone to the Catholic Church's Melbourne Response scheme, set up in 1996 to handle clergy sex abuse claims in the Melbourne archdiocese, while still children.

Church lawyer Richard Leder said the vast majority of more than 300 victims came forward as adults.

"It was and remained very unusual for a victim to come forward so soon after the abuse," Mr Leder told the commission on Thursday.

"Apart from Katie and Emma Foster's case, and one other, every other victim has come forward as an adult many years after abuse."

The Foster girls were raped by notorious abuser Father Kevin O'Donnell and reported their abuse while still teenagers.

The Fosters' parents have criticised the church's handling of their case, and won a $750,000 compensation court case against the Melbourne archdiocese.

Mr Leder said dealing with children who reported abuse made the case more complex to deal with.

He said he did not understand the long-lasting effects of sexual abuse as well in 1996 as he does now.

The Melbourne Response has upheld 326 claims of abuse against 81 identified priests and church workers.