AUSTRALIA
ABC News
ANALYSIS
By Jonathan Flynn
The presentation of victim impact statements is one of the most powerful and revealing parts of a child sexual abuse trial.
Each one is different, a unique voice speaking out, usually after decades of painful, secretive silence. But there is a terrible consistency in the effect the abuse had on these people’s lives:
“I feel pain and self-hatred. I tried to obliterate it with alcohol.”
“I’ve lost my right to a normal life.”
“I can no longer trust anyone, I always wonder whether they will betray my trust the way my abuser did.”
“I didn’t know who to trust, so I trusted no one.”
“It made my life the living embodiment of hell.”
These are some of the statements I’ve heard in sentencing submissions for clerical abusers from my old school, Saint Stanislaus’ College. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems are described by nearly all the victims. Suicide attempts are also mentioned.
Most of the statements I heard were read out by an advocate or legal representative. At the trial of the worst Saint Stanislaus’ offender, Brian Spillane, the son of one victim read his father’s words.
The abuse had destroyed this man’s ability to have close relationships. His son had remained at his side throughout.
Another of Spillane’s victims read his own statement. It was a similar story.
“I’ve lost the ability to face the world with optimism and hope,” he said.
Then he described the pain of having to tell his wife and children about the ordeal he had been through — causing them suffering added to the injury the abuse had brought decades earlier.
His voice cracked as he read his statement. People in the court were crying. I heard one person behind me whisper “come on mate” as he struggled to get the words out.
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