Sex abuse victim files counter-protest

Lawrence Grech, the victim of the St Joseph Home clerical sex abuse, has filed a counter-protest Fr Conrad Sciberras, the fourth priest named in abuse allegations.

In his counter-protest, Grech says Sciberras did not deny any of his allegations in a protest he filed last week.

Grech claims Sciberras groped his private parts at the age of 13 and abused him sexually under the guise of teaching him how to swim.

The Church’s  Response Team said the allegations against Sciberras are ‘founded’ but criminal action could not be taken because they were time-barred.

Grech said he would welcome any libel action by Sciberras.

In his protest last week, Sciberras, formerly of the Missionary Society of St Paul and now a diocesan priest, said he was never subjected to any criminal proceedings and none were pending.

Sciberras had appeared before the Church’s Response Team, the Archdiocese’s commission to investigate abuse claims. He claimed this process was similar to a trial and that the decree issued by the response team was now awaiting confirmation by the Vatican.

Scibberras said Grech’s allegations prejudiced his case. He denied having escaped from Malta just before the Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Malta in April 2011.