Mum faces down disgraced priest Honorio Hincapie, who abused her son

The mother of a Queensland boy betrayed by a predator priest has tearfully stared down her son’s abuser at his sentencing for child sex offences. Read the victim impact statement. *Distressing content

A mum has tearfully faced the disgraced priest who stole her son’s innocence, saying he would always remember how he had violated him.

Honorio Hincapie, 62, pleaded guilty to several counts of grooming and indecent dealing of a child when he faced Hervey Bay District Court this week.

The court heard details of how he had groomed two boys at a party in Maryborough in recent years (date withheld for legal reasons).

With the mother of the first victim by her side, the mum of the second boy read her victim impact statement to the court, telling of the trauma her son had experienced as a result of Hincapie’s actions.

“No child deserves the horrific nightmare you have had mine living for I don’t even know how long.

“Now for his entire life.

“He will always remember how you disgustingly violated him.”

The mum said her son was born when she was a teenager and she had protected him from places and people who might hurt him.

But she felt like she had ultimately failed to protect him.

“I will never be the parent I was before you destroyed my innocent child’s life.

“Before you destroyed our entire family.

“You took that from my children.

“You broke the only parent they have.

Honorio Hincapie, 62, pleaded guilty to several counts of grooming and indecent dealing of a child when he faced Hervey Bay District Court this week.

“They won’t have the chance to grow up with the same freedoms their friends do, they’ll always been held back because I’ll always be terrified they will encounter someone like you again.”

Even taking the children to school triggered panic now, the mum told the court.

“For weeks after this came out, I couldn’t send my children to school because I was physically sick at the thought of not having them in my sight.

“I still cry on my way home from dropping them off every single day.

“I fight the biggest gut instinct to go back and get them.

“Because of you I will never trust that my children are safe without me beside them.”

The mum said she fears her son will never be the same again after the abuse.

“He doesn’t joke around, he doesn’t laugh,” she said.

“He struggles going to school.

“He cannot handle being around people.”

She said her son had come forward in the hopes of protecting other children.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Suzanne Sheridan said Hincapie’s actions represented a “complete breach of trust”.

She described his behaviour as “predatory and opportunistic”.

“Your actions stole their innocence,” Judge Sheridan said.

Hincapie was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, to be suspended after 10 months.

He was also ordered to serve three years probation.