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Still No Paedophile-enabler Street Change Nearly a Year after Issue Raised with Council

Warrnambool Standard
April 3, 2019

https://www.standard.net.au/story/5990785/renewed-push-to-drop-paedophile-enabler-street-honour/

Lack of action: Cr Peter Hulin is still pushing for Fiscalini Drive to be renamed. Picture: Morgan Hancock

Victims of sexual abuse are mounting a renewed push to rename a Warrnambool street which honours a senior priest who knew about abuse but failed to act.

Warrnambool mayor Tony Herbert previously told a victim that Fiscalini Drive's name would be changed - but it hasn't happened despite the issue being first raised mid-last year.

The Standard has contacted Cr Herbert for comment but he has not responded yet.

Monsignor Leo Fiscalini was told by a victim she was being sexually abused in 1972 and he accused her of "telling lies" and left her in the care of her abuser.

The county court has since jailed her abuser.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuses acknowledged Fiscalini and former Bishop of Ballarat Ronald Mulkearns knew of complaints relating to pedophile Gerald Ridsdale in the 1970s but permitted him to continue working in the region.

The sex assault victim, who revealed her abuse to Monsignor Fiscalini in a confessional, has previously received support from Cr Herbert.

"I received a very empathetic email," she said.

"On July 12 last year I first wrote to Tony Herbert seeking support for the name of the street being changed after the story in The Standard.

"He said he was supportive of the removal of names from all public recognition of both those responsible for committing crimes and those who concealed crimes.

"He assured me he was fully supportive of Monsignor Fiscalini's name being removed."

The victim said that on August 18, after the tragic death of her sister, Cr Herbert again emailed to voice his support.

He said there was no barrier from the parish perspective and council had been supportive of the suggestion.

"He wrote back to me and said: 'I'm sure the council will have no issue. It will be changed'," she quoted from that email.

The victim said that on November 30 last year and again on February 26 she contacted both Cr Herbert and Cr Peter Hulin but did not receive a reply from either councillor.

"It was really disappointing," she said.

A victim of clergy abuse victim said he also contacted Cr Herbert on Tuesday this week.

"I asked where the process was at and he said it really hasn't started, that nothing had been done," he said.

"He said Fiscalini wasn't convicted of any crimes.

"But, that's not what we are talking about. These leaders of the church, both Fiscalini and Bishop Ronald Mulkearns, were paedophile enablers. They were in charge and moved around these priests, enabling them to continue to abuse children."

The priest victim said he made an approach to the Moyne shire council about a plaque honouring former Bishop of Ballarat James O'Collins on the Koroit Theatre.

"After inquiries that was covered over with a metal plate in three weeks," he said.

"Other plaques were removed or altered from schools and churches around the district.

"Emmanuel College even erected new plaques to explain about clergy abuse. I think the only plaque that remains honouring Bishop Mulkearns is at Our Lady Help Of Christians church in east Warrnambool."

Cr Peter Hulin said he had been working towards getting the street name changed and would bring the issue up with the new council chief executive officer Peter Schneider at the first opportunity.

"It is a matter of timing, but it's not good enough at all. We need to put things in place. It should happen," he said.

"I was surprised by the amount of people who came out as being abused and said they wanted it gone. That overrides any other opinion. I'm absolutely behind it," he said.

A council spokesman said it's expected that the issue will be discussed at a future council briefing.

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