Sex abuse victim Lawrence Grech outside the court yesterday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Witnesses in the civil suit for compensation filed by sex abuse victims against the Church will be heard behind closed doors but legal arguments will be public, a judge ruled yesterday.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco gave the decree after taking into consideration the sensitivity of the case and the fact that children still lived in the same home where the abuse occurred about 20 years ago.

The request for evidence to be heard in camera was made by the Missionary Society of St Paul that owns and runs the home.

Two former MSSP members were convicted of abusing 11 boys.

In 2011, now defrocked priests, Godwin Scerri , 77, and Charles Pulis , 68, were sentenced to five and six years’ imprisonment respectively for abusing boys in their care at St Joseph Home in Santa Venera.

The case for compensation was instituted against the Church, the MSSP and the two ex-priests.

The judge yesterday asked Mr Scerri and Mr Pulis whether they had a lawyer. When they replied they did not, Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said they were required by law to file their submissions through a lawyer within 20 days.

The fact that the case would be debated in the press would do untold harm

He told them that given the seriousness of the case, it was imperative that they get a lawyer. Mr Scerri informed the judge they had been in touch with a legal aid lawyer.

Lawyers Franco Vassallo and Patrick Valentino, for the victims, argued that if the whole judicial process was heard behind closed doors it would not be in the best interest of justice.

Lawyer Ray Zammit, for the MSSP, replied that the very fact that the case would be debated in the press would do untold harm, especially to the children living in the home where the abuse took place.

The trial of the two ex-priests had a very negative effect on the children and they should be protected, Dr Zammit said, adding that what happened outside the courtroom was not justice but sensationalism.

Lawyers Dominic Cassar and Joe Brincat appeared for the Curia. Lawyer Victoria Buttigieg appeared for the Attorney General.