BALLARAT ABUSE VICTIMS SHARE THEIR STORIES

PHILIP NAGLE, 50

Abused by Brother Stephen Francis Farrell at St Alipius primary school.

"St Alipius Boys' Primary School was a place where there was true evil."

Nagle was "absolutely disgusted" when Farrell was given a two-year suspended sentence in 1997 and the magistrate said the person who committed the offences was not the person being dealt with now.

"I was pretty disappointed that the magistrate would say something like this about such an evil predator.

"The whole thing was treated like it was a traffic offence."

BAC, 52

Also abused by Farrell at St Alipius.

"I remember when I started at St Alipius, I was told by other kids to steer clear of Brother Robert Best, to go nowhere near him and never let him get you alone.

"I was also told to be careful around Brother Gerald Leo Fitzgerald. Nobody said why but I remember the other kids were scared of these two Brothers."

BAS, 69

Sexually abused by a Christian Brother at St Patrick's primary school from age 12 or 13.

Told his parents about the physical abuse but not the sexual abuse.

"It doesn't matter what people say to me. I'll never forget what happened to me by the Catholic Church.

"I've had 10 sessions of counselling but it still hasn't taken any of the hurt away."

BAP, 58

Abused by Fitzgerald and Best at St Alipius.

Didn't tell anyone until 2011.

"I was never able to be a normal child at school. I was always in fear of something happening to me.

"Brother Best didn't just take my soul, he crushed it.

"What he did to me was put fear and horror into me."

BAA, 53

Abused by a nun as well as three Christian Brothers at Ballarat schools.

"I don't remember how long the incident of abuse lasted but when she was done the nun took me off her lap and said what had just happened was God's secret.

"She told me if I told anyone what had happened I would go to hell."

Said his experience with the Catholic Church's Towards Healing process was horrific.

PAUL AUCHETTL, 57

Abused at Ballarat's St Alipius primary school.

Best would hit him until he cried, then hold him tightly and molest him.

Other boys warned him not to get out of the car on trips with Father Gerald Francis Ridsdale, Australia's worst pedophile priest.

Didn't tell anyone he was abused until he was 20.

"I felt guilty and ashamed that I was part of what turned into a monstrous habit for these men."