WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: All George wanted to do when he was at St Joseph's School, Temuka was to ring the bell. To do that he had to be an altar boy. He also loved watching wrestling on television and that knowledge is what he says Father Cornelius O'Brien used when he sexually violated him after school one day.
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The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch investigated George's case and found a 'litany of offending' carried out by Father O'Brien in New Zealand before he returned to the UK.
George spoke to CTV as part of its Challenge the Silence series. One in six boys will be sexually abused before they are 18. In this video series, 10 men have told their stories. All grew up believing they were the only ones it had happened to. Now they want other victims to know they are not alone and, if they are ready, help is there for them.
Need help?
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Youthline: 0800 376-633, txt 234 or talk@youthline.co.nz
What’s Up (for 5-18 year olds; 1pm-11pm): 0800 942-8787
Tone Miller, Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Dunedin/Invercargill: 0211987878.
