A safeguarding review commissioned by Caldey Abbey concluded that victims of child sexual abuse were treated in a “heartless, hostile and cruel way” by Cistercian monks on Caldey Island.

Caldey Island is located off the Pembrokeshire Coast in South Wales. The island is owned by the monks but has a number of lay residents who are dependent on the Abbey, and also attracts large number of tourists each year. 

The review heard from 16 survivors who provided accounts of their experiences. The abuse had been perpetrated by Father Thaddeus Kotic between the late 1960s until his death in 1992. Kotik reportedly groomed and sexually abused children as young as three. He gained their trust with the promise of sweets, chocolate and other gifts.

During the period in question thousands of children would visit the island in the summer and autumn. The children concerned were often vulnerable and attended as part of church groups. 

The victims described being taken by Kotik to beaches, woods, gardens, an old container or building which had fallen into disrepair. Kotik would often abuse them several times a day in the summer months. 

Kotik died in 1992 without being interviewed, charged or convicted. By 2018 approximately 20 victims had come forward and made complaints to Dyfed Powys Police, but no investigation was possible due to Kotik’s death. 

Six individuals submitted civil claims against the Abbey and received out of court settlements around the same time. No direct apology was made to the victims at the time although the Abbey made a statement in which the Abbot “apologised and expressed regret for any harm caused by a member of his community”.

The review found that Kotik was able to "roam the island with his victims and at no point appears to have been challenged". Frequent allegations of abuse had been made but not followed up on or reported to police, and the lack of challenge enabled Kotik to abuse children over four decades "in plain sight". These missed opportunities represented a failure of leadership at the highest level.

The review was scathing about how the Abbey had treated the survivors including those women who had submitted civil claims. The review said the "unnecessary adversarial response" had further damaged victims and their families. Several survivors commented that the response from the Abbey which included years of denials had significantly exacerbated the impact of the abuse. 

Solicitors representing the victims described responses from the Abbey and their legal team as "the most hostile" they had ever received from any organisation. One of the survivors was even threatened with legal action and another described as a "fantasist", the review found.

The review noted that several other sex offenders spent time on Caldey Island including a fugitive from the police, Paul Ashton who was allowed unrestricted use of the Abbey’s IT system which he used to download and distribute indecent images of children. There were also allegations that Kotik invited men to the island to witness and participate in the abuse.

The review also described the inconsistent arrangements around tenancies and employment on the island which created a culture of fear amongst locals who were reluctant to do anything that might risk them losing their homes or jobs.

The report made 12 recommendations which included safeguarding training for all on the island as well as mandatory DBS checks. The present Abbot, Father Jan Rossey, commented "I’m very sorry for all the suffering but also afterwards, for [victims] not being listened to. It’s heartbreaking to read those stories." He confirmed that all the recommendations would be adopted, and all allegations would be passed on to the authorities. 

Responses to allegations of abuse have progressed significantly even in the few years since the claims referenced above. This report provides yet another example of how important the response to disclosure is not just for those who have been abused but for the organisation involved and its current and future community.