MALTA
Malta Independent
Sunday, 24 August 2014 by Neil Camilleri
The Gozitan priest who stands accused of abusing three girls allegedly touched one of his victims, a teenager, in front of her mother, at a family event.
Sources close to the case said Father Jesmond Gauci attended a family BBQ in Gozo and was caught by the girl’s mother touching the girl “inappropriately”. It is understood that the girl’s mother has said she is willing to testify against the priest.
The Malta Independent on Sunday is also informed that the police have discovered several text messages allegedly sent by the priest to at least one of the girls.
The source said the allegations had nothing to do with the school where Fr Gauci taught and that the victims were all Gozitan girls in their teens. The alleged events took place in and around February.
The same source confirmed that Gozo Bishop Mario Grech had personally reported the case to the police. This newsroom has learnt, however, that Mgr Grech first reported the case to the Education Ministry, since Fr Gauci taught religion at a Hamrun state school for boys. The Ministry then advised him to report everything to the police. The report was lodged soon after the alleged abuse took place and investigators have spent the intervening months building up the case.
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