Maltese Sex Abuse Survivor Speaks Out About Being Unable To Afford Legal Costs Of Compensation Case
Lawrence Grech, a victim of the Missionary Society of St Paul child sex abuse scandal from 2011, has appealed to the public for help in raising funds for the necessary deposit required to begin the compensation case.
Grech, along with 10 other victims, filed their case seeking damages against two priests, their Order, the Archdiocese and the government back in 2013.
In a note Grech received from the court, he was informed that in order for the appeal to be heard before a judge he would need to provide a deposit of €1,895 in the event hat the case is turned out of his favour.
Known through industry jargon as a ‘kawtela‘ or caution, the deposit is there to ensure the other party is covered if Grech’s case falls through.
But with Grech running a one-man cleaning business, he admits to being unable to afford the high deposit and has made a public plea on social media for anyone able to help him get his case heard.
Grech’s initial case was ordered in 2011 when two priests were defrocked and jailed for five and 6 years, respectively, in 2012 after being convicted for sexually abusing 11 boys under their care while working with St Joseph’s Home in Santa Venera back in the 80’s.
Grech then faced another hurdle: compensation for the abuse the children had suffered at the hands of the Church.
The efforts seemed to have been made in vain when in April of 2018 the courts ruled any claim for damages were to be time-barred for a period of two years.
That is the very decision that Grech is hoping to appeal, but he is unable to do so on his own.