‘When my mother walked in and said his name, I just blurted it out’

Abuse victim: Elaine’s story

IT WASN’T until after the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) report came out in December 2008 that it all came flooding back to Elaine (not her real name).

Her mother walked into her house — shocked. The woman had just heard about a local priest who was being linked to abuse in the diocese. He was a family friend for many years. The minute the elderly woman voiced his name, Elaine disclosed that she too had been a victim.