AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Nick McLaren
Allegations into the Wollongong Catholic Church’s dealings with the Vatican over an alleged child sex abuse case in the 1990’s are set to be investigated by the Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hold hearings into allegations involving John Gerard Nestor, who was was a priest when he was charged and found guilty of indecently assaulting a 14 year old altar boy.
The now Prime Minister Tony Abbott provided a character reference for Father Nestor and his conviction was overturned on appeal.
Nicky Davis from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, says the initial investigation will bring more cases to light.
“Wollongong is one particular area that SNAP has been aware of where there is a particularly bad cover up in that area,” she said.
“It’s certainly one of the worst regions where there has been a concentrated amount of abuse and survivors have not seen any sort of justice or been heard or treated.”
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