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Child sex abuse royal commission: Catholic priest abused two generations of boys in the same family, inquiry hears

BY LOUISE MILLIGAN
August 18, 2014

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has heard a devastating account of how a Catholic priest preyed on two generations of boys in the same family.

Tony Hersbach and his twin brother Will were molested by Father Victor Rubeo in Melbourne in the 1960s.

The priest then abused Tony’s two sons, Paul and Adam, in the 1980s.

Paul Hersbach gave evidence to the commission today and he and his father gave an exclusive interview to the ABC’s 7.30 program about how the domineering and charismatic priest managed to take hold and control their family.

“He was like a father, but like an incestuous father, so he had this real dark, secret side,” Tony told 7.30.

“And…