Abused and accused of lying, paedophile priest’s victims now vindicated after cover-up verdict

PETER Creigh wept outside a Newcastle court after SA’s most senior Catholic was found guilty of covering up a priest’s abuse of altar boys, as other victims broke their silence to hail Mr Creigh’s heroism after years of fighting for justice.

• Archbishop Philip Wilson guilty of abuse cover-up
• Wilson verdict could prompt fresh investigations
• Opinion: Wilson has no choice but to resign... Now
• Victim’s harrowing evidence in Wilson cover-up trial
• Wilson claims ‘no memory’ of abuse allegations

THEY endured unspeakable acts by a man of god – a priest universally trusted but who was secretly a monster who masked his predatory nature behind a respectable exterior.

To add to their pain, the former altar boys were then ignored or accused of lying when they tried to tell an admired junior priest colleague, Philip Edward Wilson, of the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of Father James Patrick Fletcher.

Over the next four decades the group of Newcastle altar boys hid their trauma, coping with their harrowing experiences with alcohol or drugs as they battled depression, broken homes, failed marriages and, in extreme cases, contemplated suicide.

Today, a group of five adult men were vindicated after a senior New South Wales magistrate believed their stories over those told by one of the country’s most senior Catholic Church leaders – Archbishop Wilson, 67.

Tragically, a whistleblower Catholic Church priest, Father Glen Walsh, 55, died three weeks before Wilson’s trial at which he was due to be a key prosecution witness.

Victim Peter Creigh embraces family members outside the Newcastle Court. Picture: Peter Lorimer

In a brave decision after the ruling was delivered, another two victims waived their right to legal anonymity, joining the case’s main witness, Peter Aidan Creigh, 57, in going public.

The men and their families wept in court as Magistrate Robert Stone described their evidence as “credible”, “truthful” and “reliable”, and rejected Wilson’s arguments that he did not remember their conversations in the 1970s and 1980s.

“The whole of the evidence as to sexual abuse from all families provides material that a person would believe,” the magistrate ruled. Outside court and flanked by his large family, Mr Creigh, a father of six “incredibly proud” children, spoke of his “huge sense of relief”.

“It is a very significant day for all victims and their families who have been betrayed by the Church,” he said.

“Being a senior member of the Church and having that knowledge (is) very, very disappointing.

“It has been a journey, a long journey. But it is not about me. The thing that has kept me going was for all victims and their families.”

Friends say Fr Walsh, a Hunter Valley priest and campaigner against child sex abuse within the church, was “petrified” of giving evidence before he took his own life in November last year. They say he was another victim of Fletcher, who died in prison in 2006 while serving a 10-year sentence for abusing Daniel Feenan, over several years.

Mr Feenan, 41, and Peter Gogarty, 57, told of their “extreme pride” at helping convict Wilson after the Magistrate revoked a long standing secrecy order around their identity.

Father-of-five Mr Feenan, who works in car dealership insurance, fought tears outside court as he condemned Wilson as “dishonest, untrustworthy” and would “not even call him a man”.

Archbishop Philip Wilson arrives at Newcastle Local Court. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Paedophile priest James Patrick Fletcher died in prison.

“The amount of pressure I have put on myself just to get through life, is enormous – my life would have been different,” he said.

“I don’t cry that often but you just can’t describe the feeling. Vindication would be a great word for it. I actually don’t want to have that feeling ever again.”

Academic Mr Gogarty, also a father of five, said he was “overwhelmed” and “really emotional” as he paid tribute to Mr Creigh’s “incredible bravery”.

“I feel very much vindicated today. But it is more than that. This is a hugely important day for survivors of child abuse everywhere,” he said.

“We have now got someone of this rank who has been called to account for knowing that somebody was abusing kids and not doing anything about it. And I think that is a huge message to send to the world.”

If you or someone you know needs help contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636