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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
I was taken to UK's ‘paedo island' and subjected to horrific abuse from age 6… why I know I'll never get justice
A BRAVE victim of the UK's 'paedo island' has refused to help investigators in their efforts to improve safeguarding, fearing it is an impossible task. 8 Father Thaddeus Kotik never faced criminal charges for his alleged abuse of children Credit: Supplied 8 Six victims were paid compensation after a civil case found the Cistercian priest had abused them Credit: Supplied 8 The island's monastery, where monks continue to live Credit: Getty 8 Multiple men with convictions for sexual offences have been known to have resided on the island at various times for decades. In December, a report was published following a 'thorough review' and has recommended several safeguarding measures. But one victim, who was 'They say they've got this review and we're going to make it safe. Absolute b******s to that.' Read more on this story The victim - who previously described to us the horrors she suffered - went on to explain why she believed the systems overseeing the island would make it impossible to prevent future abuse. Mum told me not to report sick cult's abuse so I was silent for decades By Ryan Merrifield Evil monk Father Thaddeus Kotik, stationed at Caldey Island's monastery from 1947 until his death in 1992, never faced any criminal charges despite countless claims against him. However, six victims were paid compensation after a 2016 civil case found the Cistercian priest had sexually abused them between 1972 and 1987. One victim - who received a £19,000 payout - She made the trip to the island over school holidays and was preyed on almost every day by Kotik - also claiming she saw him abuse others, including babies. The victim told us how the priest would wear Y-fronts back to front to seem harmless and naive, and 'to pretend he didn't know how it all worked'. 'We just thought, 'This is an adult who is interested in us.'' She continued: 'What I noticed about Father Thaddeus, he always abused [the children of] vulnerable families.' She described coach loads of kids from care often visiting the island for days at a time, who he would prey on as they visited the Abbey grounds, often after luring them into the garden. 'The other monks said he was a bit of a joker, a bit of a child," she explained. "They didn't take him that seriously, but they knew there was something dodgy about him.' Referring to the other monks and staff, she said: 'The whole island was like a cult, it was a feudal hierarchy. You had them at the top and then everybody else underneath.' She claims in 1990 she told her mum - who died several years ago - about the abuse but was warned not to report it or Kotik would be segregated from the other monks on the island. 'Father Thaddeus would abuse us three or four times a day,' she recalled. 'His hands were very rough, and he always stank of BO. We would get infections because his hands were so dirty.' She described how Kotik was 'so compulsive' and would invite kids to a makeshift office he had near the dairy. His myna bird would chatter and he'd offer them biscuits before abusing them. She said the Lincoln biscuits had 'lumps all over them'. 'I remember thinking they were the tears in my eyes and how sad they were. Thinking of somebody's eyes." The victim finally stopped going to the island regularly at the age of 16. By then, she had gone through puberty, so Kotik had lost interest in her. But the trauma has remained, and she was later raped by someone linked to the Catholic church when she was 15. 'I felt I didn't have any rights over my body, I didn't feel I could say, 'No, I don't want to do this',' she said. 'What I tend to do now is just avoid people because I was never brought up to have the self confidence to say no. 'What I've realised is I'd rather be busy and lonely than in a relationship. 'When a relationship gets remotely sexual I'm right there and it's too loaded and too many conflicting feelings." The probe was overseen by Former Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner for South Wales, Jan Pickles OBE. It came after Maria Battle, former chair of the Howell Dda University Health Board in Wales, had been appointed to oversee the island earlier in 2024. She is a director of the Caldey island Estate Company Ltd which has led anti-abuse campaigners to question her independence. Most read in The Sun The report - which focused largely on accusations against the late Father Thaddeus Kotik - concluded victims of sexual abuse on the island were treated in a hostile, heartless and cruel way. In response, Caldey Abbey, which commissioned the report, apologised for the suffering caused. Father Thaddeus Kotik and Caldey Island Victim testimonies from the 1970s collected by Ms Pickles suggest Kotik - who lived on Caldey from 1947 until his death in 1992 - was a 'serial and prolific abuser of children', often in 'plain sight' of others on the island. The report states there were multiple other occasions where accusations of child sexual abuse were not appropriately logged or reported to the authorities. Six of Kotik's victims were paid compensation after a 2016 civil case found the Cistercian priest had sexually abused them between 1972 and 1987. The victim we spoke received a £19,000 payout. She told us Ms Pickles' has been 'very good' but added: 'They're not going to put the right things in place.' They say they've got this review and we're going to make it safe. Absolute b******s to that. Caldey Island victim She described the island itself as still 'a very feudal society' and said her and other victims have been invited to join the board which oversees the island, to help implement new safeguarding measures. But she declined, telling us: 'I just don't really trust anyone who wants to sit on that board because it is like Sherry Arnstein's Ladder of Participation.' This refers to a framework developed in the 1960s which shows who had power when important decisions are made. 'It looks at how undemocratic inviting people to give their views is,' said the victim. HOW TO REPORT HISTORICAL SEX ABUSE established in June 2014 to deliver the national policing response, oversight, and coordination of non-recent child sexual abuse investigations. It specifically looks at cases concerning persons of public prominence, or in relation to those offences which took place within institutional settings. You can report to the police at any time. It can be done in a number of ways – going to a police station, dialling 101, reporting online via a police website, or even through a third party, such as a friend or relative. When you first make contact with the police, they will take an initial report, a 'first account'. The force will then make contact with you to take more detailed information. An impartial investigation will then be launched based on what you have told officers. 'It's just posturing, I'm not going to take any notice. 'They say they've got this review and we're going to make it safe. Absolute b******s to that.' She added the measures are just 'playing lip service' to 'show that they're doing due diligence… it doesn't help anything'. As part of the review, the monks are not allowed to give religious or pastoral advice to visitors, even if asked, or pose for a selfie with them. And under a 'no touch' policy will be obliged to report any accidental physical contact. The victim described the selfie ban is 'pathetic', adding: 'It's not the selfies, it's the grooming of the families who come and stay.' She said it is 'systemic' to the way the Catholic church often attempts to 'deal with things internally… they don't want to hand over the criminals to the law'. She recalled during the 1980s an article in a Catholic publication blaming paedophilia on divorcees. 'It said if people didn't get divorced you wouldn't have this problem,' she said. The review revealed that a number of sex offenders had spent time on Caldey, including Paul Ashton, who lived there for years under an alias while on the run from police. 8 Caldey Island sits just two miles south of Tenby in Pembrokeshire Credit: Getty 8 Father Kotik arrived in 1947 and died there in 1992 Credit: Supplied 8 The island's old abbey, where monks continue to hold services Credit: Supplied He had unrestricted access to the IT system and used it to download indecent images of children. A visitor who discovered his true identity informed police and he was later jailed. When he was discovered at Caldey Island in 2011, more indecent images were found on his computer in the monastery. The visitor believed he had been operating a distribution network for indecent images of children, masquerading as a cleaning company. Two other men, Father John Shannon and John Cronin, convicted of sexual offences involving children, have also been linked to Caldey Island. Harrowing 'grooming' letter In a letter from an island resident seen by The Sun, it was alleged that a 'grooming' culture still persists and that offenders are 'protected'. The unnamed victim went on to tell us: 'If you're going to encourage people to take the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty, it's going to attract somebody, a certain sort of person, and quite likely that sort of person might be a little bit inadequate emotionally, or has something wrong.' She continued: 'I just think you've got the same situation now as you had back then. 'There's plenty of opportunity for a paedophile to groom families. 'There'll be someone on that island now who is a paedophile and it's just attracting that sort of person.' She said: 'The problem is, people turn up there who are dodgy. They are looking to run away - like any kind of grass roots community, you're going to get some people who are on the run from something. 'There's quite a lot of dodgy people there.' The problem is, people turn up there who are dodgy. They are looking to run away - like any kind of grass roots community, you're going to get some people who are on the run from something. Caldey Island victim Father Jan Rossey, who took on the role of abbot in 2023, said he'd read the review with "deep sorrow and regret" and that it was "particularly heartbreaking to hear children spoke up to adults and no action was taken. "Children and their families were failed when they should have been supported and listened to,' he said. He went on to 'sincerely apologise' to the victims of Kotik and 'past failures'. He added: "Since becoming Abbot, I have ensured that many safeguarding improvements have been put in place. These are detailed in the review.' Father Rossey said he had also reached out to anyone who came forward for the review 'offering to meet with them in person to apologise'. The victim we spoke to, who was not involved in the review, said she had not received such an offer. But said: 'I would meet him in person and I would tell him where I think the Catholic church has gone wrong - and how hollow some of these apologies are, and defensive, and not really genuine.' She added: 'I know there are people who are happy to speak about what happened but I try to have as little to do with it all as possible. 'I don't like to talk about it, I like to forget it. It's very haunting - this thing is still living with me.' 'Committed to ensuring highest standards' The Sun understands Safeguarding Officers and Trainers from the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) have visited Caldey Island on multiple occasions since the investigation began, with the most recent visit taking place at the end of May. Melissa Andrews, CEO of the RLSS, said: "We are working closely with Caldey Island to ensure best practice in safeguarding. "Our team recently visited the island to deliver a series of training courses on-site, and we will continue to collaborate with their safeguarding lead to support and encourage their ongoing engagement." A spokesperson for Caldey island Estate Company Ltd said: "We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding on Caldey Island. "Following the Independent Review led by Jan Pickles OBE—conducted entirely independently of Caldey Abbey—we have taken significant steps to implement all of the recommendations made. "Safeguarding matters are now overseen by an independent committee, which includes representation from victims and survivors. In line with the Review's guidance, our Safeguarding Lead is a qualified and experienced social worker who operates independently of the Island. We remain deeply committed to creating a safe, respectful, and transparent environment for everyone connected to Caldey Island, and we are grateful for the continued support and engagement of our wider community. Caldey Island spokesperson "We've made meaningful progress, much of which is detailed in the 2024 Annual Safeguarding Report, available on the Caldey Island website. "Looking ahead, the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency will be conducting an independent audit of our safeguarding practices in June 2025. "We welcome this review, and its findings will be made publicly available. "We remain deeply committed to creating a safe, respectful, and transparent environment for everyone connected to Caldey Island, and we are grateful for the continued support and engagement of our wider community." The Sun has also contacted Father Rossey for further comment. Do you know more? Email 8 The victim was just six years old when she was first abused by Kotik Credit: Getty
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A right royal Bigger Cup party at the Parc des Princes
Whether it's Ed Sheeran at Ipswich, Michael McIntyre at Spurs or Hugh Grant and the Osman brothers at Fulham, celebrity fans always need to be on their very best behaviour, given the almost psychopathic obsession TV directors have with cutting away to them as the action on the pitch unfolds. Last night it was the turn of Prince William to find himself under constant surveillance in his VIP seat in nominative determinism's Parc des Princes, where he and his son, George, were forced to abandon any plans they might have had to pick their noses, flick Vs at Paris Saint-Germain players or offer home fans out for a scrap on the concourse, for fear of being caught on camera and enjoying a surge in public popularity that no end of gladhanding elderly war veterans or official visits to former colonies could ever provide. To be fair to Aston Villa's most famous fan since David Cameron mistook them for West Ham, he had attempted to keep his visit to Paris low-key for his beloved team's first Bigger Cup quarter-final first leg in a little over 40 years. Given the opportunity to meet and greet Villa's players one-by-one as they went out to warm up for what was the biggest game in many of their careers, he was also press-ganged into a pre-match chat with the TNT Sports pundits Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist, who asked him how he felt. 'I'm pretty terrified,' one confessed. 'It's been a while coming, so it's a big game. I'm confident but I'm also excited by the whole prospect. I'm wearing all my lucky clothes and have done all my routines, so I'm hoping it's going to bring some luck tonight.' Having already won the lottery by being born into a life of unimaginable privilege, it is difficult to imagine the heir to the throne relying on a pair of tatty and threadbare Y-fronts for extra luck, but he did go on to provide an impressive level of insight into how he envisioned the game unfolding that had one of his interviewers quaking in his boots. 'Don't go for a punditry job, please, because I could be out of the game,' joshed Ferdinand as vast swathes of the TNT audience dared to dream. As it happened, William's lucky grundies, expensive watch and finely tailored overcoat only worked up to a certain point, specifically the moment Villa's players kicked a Parisian hornet's nest by taking a first-half lead. Cue the obligatory cut to the stands where William and his son George could be seen celebrating wildly, just like every other less regal Villa fan in the ground. Their jubilation was short-lived, what with Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes consigning Villa to defeat with a trio of superb strikes but, while Villa remain alive in the tie, PSG look a completely different proposition to the team that won one of their first five group games and were, at one stage before Christmas, looking a good bet to continue a long tradition of ignominious exits from the competition. 'For us it is important to believe in ourselves,' roared PSG gaffer Luis Enrique, whose team have been given the weekend off, all the better to prepare for the second leg. 'The three goals were filled with quality. They are all quality players with a lot of ambition.' While Villa don't have the luxury of a free weekend, they do only have to play Southampton, which is the next best thing. 'We believe in Villa Park and the players,' said Unai Emery, forgetting to mention the club's lucky prince. 'If David de Gea or Peter Schmeichel or [Edwin] van der Sar said that then I will question myself, but if you are one of the statistically worst goalkeepers in Manchester United's modern history then he needs to show that before he says, so we will see' – Nemanja Matic claps back against André Onana after the keeper claimed United were 'way better' than Lyon. The pair are set to meet in Bigger Vase this evening. Expect an awkward handshake. 'I always knew that there was a reason why Nemanja Matic was a favourite of José Mourinho' – Noble Francis. 'Surprised you had to 'assume' Dennis Taylor was taking a penalty [Wednesday' Memory Lane] – he definitely was, but it was disallowed as the ball touched both his feet before hitting the back of the net, as the photo clearly shows! That Julián Alvarez of that Atlético Madrid got a lot more coverage, but has he ever kept a nation up till after midnight watching a black-ball decider? No' – Andy Morrison. 'As an Atlético de Madrid fan of some years standing, I am more than horribly familiar with the 'La Real' capacity for Lazarus-style comebacks from near-death experiences (Bigger Cup finals 2014, 2016, last-16 this year). As a result I have slipped a cheeky tenner on them at 16/1 to win the Champions League outright. You know it makes sense really' – Rob Ford. Send letters to Today's letter o' the day winner is … Andy Morrison, who wins a copy of Groundhopper, by Pitch Publishing. Visit their bookshop here. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here. All Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted was to quickly Make United Great Again and be feted as their saviour for evermore, a revered club legend for evermore. Was that really too much to demand? Er, yeah. For, in a turn of events no one could possibly have predicted, the billionaire decided against taking responsibility for his own disastrous decisions in appointing Daniel 'Dan' Ashworth as director of football and rewarding Erik ten Hag with a new contract despite a dreadful second season – oversights which cost the club £14.5m. On the other hand, though, he is increasing ticket prices, including for OAPs, destroying in-ground fan communities, removing staff perks, and firing a load of workers. 'Since Ratcliffe arrived this team of directors try to destroy everything and they don't respect anybody,' Eric Cantona flared. 'They even want to change the stadium. The soul of the team and the club is not in the players. All the people around is like a big family.' What Ratcliffe and his ilk appear incapable of grasping is that legendary status depends not just on achievement, but on conscience and integrity – qualities that cannot simply be purchased. Get your ears around the latest Football Weekly Extra, as the pod squad attempt to answer the question: are PSG the favourites to win the Champions League? Paris in the spring proved less than pleasant for Aston Villa, gubbed 3-1 by PSG, which caused Unai Emery to forget how numbers work. 'The last goal is a little bit disappointing for us because it was in the last minute but it is not changing much,' he said. 'At 2-1 we were thinking, in the next match, we have to play to win. With 3-1, it is still the same.' Barcelona are as good as through to the Bigger Cup semi-finals after Robert Lewandowski scored twice against his former side in a 4-0 tousing of Borussia Dortmund. Local boy Jamie Paterson scored an injury-time winner as Franklampardscoventry beat Portsmouth to move into the Championship playoff places. The cuddly types at Manchester City have frozen ticket prices for next season after opposition to planned increases was made by fans in the ground and through City Matters, its fan-engagement programme. 'The club and City Matters will continue their ongoing discussions and consultations,' cheered a statement. Liverpool are increasingly confident that they can think of a number big enough to persuade 32-year-old Mohamed Salah to sign a new contract at the club. And Inter Miami are into the semi-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup after coming from behind to beat LAFC in a chaotic match in Florida. Some guy called Lionel Messi, 64, scored the decisive penalty. Next up for Miami: the Vancouver Whitecaps. 'I screamed at the referee, I didn't have any contact with him or commit any [violence]. They want to make an example of me for French football, I think I'm paying not for what I did but for the moment we are in.' Paulo Fonseca gets his chat on with Nick Ames. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is perhaps the most watchable footballer in the world at the moment. Barney Ronay ponders an old-skool throwback. The Europa League quarter-finals get under way this evening. Ben McAleer predicts how they might go. 'They tried to convince me, but still it's not working because I don't like golf.' Alassana Jatta, of Notts County and the Gambia, gets his chat on with Will Unwin. And Bukayo Saka's return offers thrilling new possibilities for Arsenal, writes David Hytner. Though not, by the sound of things, an end to the reign of 'starboy' as football's most cringeworthy recent neologism. A young Owen Hargreaves and Karim Benzema compete for the ball during Manchester United's clash with Lyon in the 2008 Big Cup last 16. United progressed 2-1 on aggregate, eventually winning the final on penalties against Chelsea. How times have changed.
