WARRNAMBOOL (AUSTRALIA)
Warrnambool Standard
April 3, 2019
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.
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