Two other victims of priestly abuse have come forward in the past days, alleging that they too have experienced abuse at the hands of the same priest, Lou Bondi told a news conference outside the law courts yesterday.

Mr Bondi, who is helping the victims in their media relations, was speaking following a meeting between six of the victims and the President of Malta, George Abela, which he described as cordial.

He said that one could understand why it took victims so long to come forward in some cases, as this was such a traumatic experience. The victims are glad that their meeting with Pope Benedict XVI may encourage other victims to speak out.

During the meeting, which lasted approximately an hour, the victims spoke of the delays there were in the court case. They called upon Dr Abela, in his position as chairman of the Commission for the Administration of Justice, to look into whether any steps could be taken to speed up the process, and if so, to take these steps towards justice.

Without going into the merits of the court case, the victims were pleased to note two things Dr Abela had said. First of all that justice delayed was justice denied, he said, before going on to say that he would be looking into the case.

Mr Bondi said they were glad to note that the President had spoken of their plight in his welcoming speech to the Pope, during his short visit last weekend, and said they felt this had played a part in their getting a meeting with the Pope.

Upon hearing the story of each victim, President Abela offered them his help and told them that his door was always open to them.

The meeting with the Pope was a positive one, as was the fact that in his first public meeting he spoke of his encounter with the victims, describing it as a moving meeting.

Furthermore, Mr Bondi pointed out, it was the first time that the Pope did not say ‘the alleged victims’, but simply said the victims of priestly abuse.

Speaking of ongoing procedures, Mr Bondi said they were still waiting for the next step from the Curia Response Team, which was set up in 2003.

So far there has been only one meeting with the individual victims, and only three of them have been interviewed. The victims do not feel they have gotten any justice or satisfaction from the team.

Lawrence Grech, one of the victims, said he had forgiven the perpetrators of the abuse but when he saw the delays there were and having to go back to court brought all the feelings to the surface again.

It is unfair that justice is not granted quickly, for such a traumatic experience, he said, and that after seven years the victims were still waiting for action.