Dominican priest Mark Montebello is denying that he acted as an intermediary in the money offer made to a complainant in the clerical sex abuse case involving the former Kerygma Movement director Fr Charles Fenech, in return for her silence.
Following a telephone interview with him on Saturday ahead of the story in The Sunday Times of Malta, Fr Montebello is now saying that he had not acted as an intermediary in the matter.
Times of Malta is publishing Fr Montebello's statement and, in view of his comments, it is also publishing the transcript of the phone call made before the Sunday Times of Malta story was published.
FR MONTEBELLO'S STATEMENT
"There must have been some misunderstanding with regard to the report by Matthew Xuereb in today’s Sunday Times on the cash offered to silence the alleged victim of Fr. Charles Fenech.
"May I make it clear that I had not been in any way an intermediary in the matter. What happened was that, while speaking with Edgar Bonnici Cachia on the phone about some other matter, I mentioned in passing that it came to my attention that money had been offered to the alleged victim and that it had been refused.
"Mr Bonnici Cachia told me that he was aware of such cases and that neither he nor the alleged victim were for sale. I vouch that I had not passed on to him or to someone else any message on behalf of anyone. May I add that I consider such money offering to be unethical and immoral, and that I would never accept to be part of such dealings."
PHONE CALL TRANSCRIPT
(MX is the journalist Matthew Xuereb, MM is Fr Montebello)
MX Fr Mark?
MM Yes
MX Good afternoon. It’s Matthew Xuereb from The Times. How are you?
MM OK, thank God
MX I’m working on a story on Fr Charles Fenech and you were brought into the picture as the person who offered the victim money?
MM I offered the victim money? This is good. I don’t even know the person.
MX We were told you spoke to Edgar Bonnici Cachia...
MM Ah, wait. Yes. Rephrase because I think I’m misunderstanding you. Not I gave...
MX No, you called him and told him: “Hemm sinjur li lest joffrilkom sitt figuri basta tirtiraw kollox.” That is what they are saying you said.
MM No, it’s not that. They offered me money?
MX They offered you money? Why should they offer you money? They are saying that you called Edgar Cachia...
MM. I did not call Edgar Bonnici Cachia...he called me. That’s number one.
MX OK, and you told him: “Hemm sinjur li lest joffrilkom sitt figuri basta tirtiraw kollox.”
MM To the police? To Edgar? I don’t think we are understanding each other. What I told Edgar is that I know of people who are saying...it’s complicated...I know people who told me that someone told them to call the victim because they know them and tell her that there will be this exchange of money. Am I getting through?
MX So you don’t know who made the offer?
MM Of course I know. I informed Edgar of this?
MX What did you tell him? That there was someone who was prepared to give her money?
MM Yes.
MX But you didn’t know who made the offer?
MM Of course I knew and I told him who it is.
MX Do you want to tell me who it is?
MM No, I don’t want to tell you.
MX Why?
MM I told Edgar and I do not know why Edgar told you to call me.
MX He did not tell me to call you. I called you myself because I was very surprised to hear you name to tell you the truth. So all you did was inform him that there was a person who was prepared to pay?
MM Yes, that’s all I did.
MX OK, you don’t want to tell me who this person is. Is it a priest?
MM No, no. A married couple who knew the victim well.
MX Why would a couple who knows the victim well pay the victim to buy her silence?
MM The person who told them about the offer approached them because they knew the victim well and told them to call her to drop the allegations and they accepted to do it. When they called the victim she got angry and told them she was not interested and she was sorry they called her because she knew them and loved them and told them not to call again, at least not on this.
MX So basically you just passed on the message.
MM Yes, I just passed on the message. I was speaking to Edgar and he mentioned something and I told him about it. I do not want to be quoted Matthew.
MX He mentioned your name in comment to me so my story will feature you, so I called you for your explanation.
MM OK. Is the explanation OK?
MX Yes, it’s fine.MM Don’t quote me and don’t drag me into the story. Quote him.
MX Yes, I will quote him but since he mentioned you...he told me Fr Mark called me and told me there was a person who was ready to pay, even six figures...I read this out to you already. Now, if I quote him saying this , the story would look funny if I don’t have you explanation.
MM Matthew, a second, you told me a story and I clarified what the story was. All I’m doing now is...let’s say...confirming...but nothing else. Don’t quote me.
MX Yes, yes. Confirming that you made this phone call.
MM Yes. Edgar said so and so and so and I confirmed it. Again I do not think I made the phone call. I do not remember who made the phone call because we called a lot of time.
MX He told me it was April 1 this year at 22.18.
MM I made the call?
MX He said he called me...at nearly 20 past 10 at night.
MM Heqq
MX While we’re at it, would you like to give me comments on what’s happening to your order.
MM No I don’t. No I don’t.
MX OK
MM Ciao
MX Thank you very much
MM Ciao