Caldey Island victim: 'It should be given over to the National Trust'

A victim of Thaddeus Kotik returns to Caldey after 35 years and is haunted by memories of abuse

In the bright sunshine, the monastic island of Caldey looked a picture. Visitors, young and old, hopped off the day trippers’ boats and milled around the abbey, the perfumery, the chocolate factory and lighthouse, occasionally catching faraway glimpses of the Cistercian monks who live, work and worship here.

For Mark, a retired public servant in his 60s, however, this was no fun holiday visit. Mark is a victim of the sexual abuse scandal that has engulfed the island off the south Wales coast since it was revealed in the Guardian at the end of last year.

Related: Revealed: monk who abused children on Caldey Island for decades

Everything Thaddeus did was aimed at grooming parents so he could gain their trust and abuse their children

Related: Woman abused by Caldey Island monk tells of lasting impact

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2NvrtXq