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Review finds a monk sexually abused children ‘in plain sight’ over decades on a UK island

apnews.com Review finds a monk sexually abused children 'in plain sight' over decades on a UK island

The head of an abbey on a monastic Welsh island has apologized after a review found that a monk sexually abused children over several decades “in plain sight” despite repeated complaints raised against him.

Review finds a monk sexually abused children 'in plain sight' over decades on a UK island

The review said victim testimonies dating from the 1970s suggested that Father Thaddeus Kotik, who died in 1992, was a “serial and prolific” child abuser on Caldey Island, a tiny community home to Cistercian Order monks off the coast of south Wales. The scenic island and its abbey are popular tourist attractions.

Victims alleged that Kotik used sweets, chocolate and a tortoise to lure girls and boys to isolated locations on the island, and that he befriended families living on the island with affection, gifts and babysitting offers to access the children.

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