Seven years after their case first started being heard, victims of sex abuse by priests at St Joseph’s Home said yesterday the Church had found sufficient evidence for the case to be sent to the Vatican for adjudication.

When asked about the matter, a Curia spokesman would only confirm that the Response Team had concluded the preliminary investigations. No further details were forthcoming from the Church.

The short announcement was made in a statement to the media by TV presenter Lou Bondi who is acting as a spokesman for the men.

The victims, who say they were abused when still minors at St Joseph’s orphanage in Santa Venera, are expected to give a press conference later today where some of them will show their face in public for the first time.

They had met Pope Benedict XVI during his visit in Malta earlier this year after having met Archbishop Paul Cremona.

The victims had complained they were only heard once at the start of the proceedings.

After the Pope’s visit, the victims were interviewed by the Vatican’s chief prosecutor of sex abuse cases involving priests, Mgr Charles Scicluna.

A criminal case against three priests facing charges of child sex abuse at the orphanage is being heard behind closed doors and has been going on for seven years.