Dominican friar Charles Fenech has sent a Christmas card to a woman who was allegedly abused by him, The Malta Independent has learnt. The card depicting the scene of the Nativity contained a religious message inside. He signed it by hand and addressed it to her, and her family.

Yesterday week the court started hearing evidence in the case against Fr Fenech, 54, who is facing sexual abuse charges. So far, the alleged victim together with three other witnesses have given evidence behind closed doors. The woman who received the card was one of the witnesses who testified.

The sender’s address on the back of the is that of the Dominican Priory in Rabat. The card was sent in the last week of November as one can see from the Maltapost stamp. That date was before the court hearing. This was the week after The Malta Independent on Sunday published details from a sworn statement given by one of Fr Charles’ alleged victims to the police.

Father Fenech was stopped from administering his responsibilities as a priest after The Malta Independent published a story naming him as the priest who is charged with alleged sexual abuse. He has also been removed from the post of director of the Kerygma Movement.