Updated - Broadcaster Lou Bondi this afternoon revealed disagreements with the victims of clerical abuse, which culminated when they made comments to the press late last week despite an agreement that comments would only be made by legal adviser Patrick Valentino.
Mr Bondi stepped down from his role as adviser to the victims three days ago and revealed the decision in his blog yesterday.
He denied that he had stepped down because of a planned meeting between the victims and Joseph Muscat.
The victims, he said, had proposed more than a year ago that they should have meetings with Lawrence Gonzi and Joseph Muscat, but he advised against, insisting that this was not a political matter. At the time he warned that should any such meeting be held with any politician, he would step down.
“But the first time I learnt they had met Joseph Muscat was today,” he said. “They acted behind my back, which proves how correct I was to step aside.”
Mr Bondi said that at a meeting last Thursday between the victims, their lawyer and himself, it was decided that since this was a legal issue, comments to the press would only be made by the lawyer, Patrick Valentino.
“No sooner had the meeting finished that Lawrence Grech gave comments to the press,” Mr Bondi complained.
Then on Saturday some of the victims turned up before a press conference with posters criticising the Church and the Archbishop. The press conference was meant to have been addressed only by Mr Valentino.
I am truly sorry that it has come to this, Mr Bondi’ said.
In his blog yesterday, Mr Bondi' said he had been helping the victims of sexual abuse at St Joseph Home for eight years.
He said he had sent an email to Dr Valentino and two of the victims, Lawrence Grech and Joseph Magro, telling them he was stepping down.
In his email, Mr Bondi said he had reflected on whether he should continue to be involved, now that the case had been decided in court. He decided to step down because his purpose of seeing justice be done had been achieved.
He said the legal efforts for the victims to be given financial compensation were worthy and he hoped that they would succeed. However, this was not part of what he had worked for with the victims and therefore, he did not see himself as having a role in it.
Mr Bondi said he absolutely disagreed with actions and declarations made against the Church and Archbishop Paul Cremona in recent days. He had made his position clear early on, but his advice was ignored.
He augured that the victims would close this chapter of their lives successfully.
Lawrence Grech, a spokesman for the victims, said when contacted that Mr Bondi had set conditions to suit his agenda instead of helping then unconditionally.