Alleged sexual abuse by Fr Fenech...

By Rachel Attard
Malta Independent
November 12, 2014

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-11-12/local-news/Alleged-sexual-abuse-by-Fr-Fenech-Victim-says-Dominicans-paid-for-her-psychological-therapy-6736125501

Alleged sexual abuse by Fr Fenech: Victim says Dominicans paid for her psychological therapy

One of the victims allegedly sexually abused by Fr Charles Fenech saw a psychologist for about a year but was never asked to pay for the services rendered. She is claiming that she was told that the Dominican Province will be dealing with the costs.

She was given advice to go for professional help by another Dominican priest, Fr Charles Tabone, but she does not know whether it was "Fr Tabone, Fr Fenech or the Dominican Province" who paid.

Contacted by The Malta Independent, Fr Tabone preferred to answer in generic terms and refused to be drawn into the individual case. When contacted via phone Fr Tabone asked for questions to be sent via email.

Can you confirm that when Fr. Charles Fenech was the Dominican Provincial in 2004 he asked you to send one of the alleged victims to a psychologist?

No Provincial ever requested me to send someone to a psychologist.

Did you know why this particular alleged victim was going for treatment? Did you know there was a relationship between her and Fr Fenech?

As a priest I meet with a lot of people who come to me for help. I can't say what is said between us because I am bound by rules of confidentiality. I personally helped people financially when possible when they came to me. I do this with the money I receive for charity.

Can you confirm if the Dominican provincial paid for the therapy?

I am not in a position to respond on what the Provinice does with its money because I do not have any idea.

Did you report this alleged case to the Curia and to the Police?

Regarding the case that is being highlighted in the media these last few days I can say that when I heard about it, the Curia was already informed and up until Janauary 2012, when the law changed, it was only the vicitm or who was responsible for the victim who could file a report.

The Malta Independent is informed that in 2004 one of the alleged victims that Fr Charles Fenech sexually abused used to attend the Nazzarenu youth group in Sliema. This group use to be led by Fr Charles Tabone, who untill October was the Archbishop's delegate. According to her, during one of the meetings she plucked up the courage and decided to tell Fr Tabone what was going on between her and Fr Charles Fenech, who at that time was the Dominican Provincial. The alleged victim also told this newsroom that she showed Fr Tabone some of the SMSs that Fr. Fenech usd to send her.

When Fr Tabone got to know her story, he told her that he would help her. A few days later he told the allaged victim that he had found a female psychologist who was ready to give her professional advice. The victim said, "Fr Tabone told her that the expenses would have been taken care of." She spent about a year in therepy.