We will be waiting

Share Button

The sex abuse trial of ex priest turned counsellor Gabriel De Bianco starts tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 15 October 2013) in the Sarnia, Ontario courthouse.  The trial is booked for about eight days.

Those who have been following the site for some time will recall when these charges were first laid away back in April of 2011.  The complainants have been waiting for this day for a long time.  We have been waiting with them.  Finally, it’s here.

The last I knew there were at least five complainants who had come forward to have criminal charges laid.  There are a 19 charges.  You may recall that Gabe Del Bianco, who left the priesthood in 1996, has admitted fathering the child of one of his victims.  You may also recall that he was working as a counsellor in Kincardine, Ontario and, believe it or not, after he was charged had set up a new counselling business optimistically called “After the Storm” counselling.  His wife Pat was working as his receptionist.  I phoned to ensure it was him and that he had in fact started up under a new name.  Yes to both.    When I asked Pat how Del Bianco can carry on counselling when he is facing several sex abuse charges she hung hung up.

I urge those who can get to the Sarnia courthouse over the next eight days to please do so.  The complainants need your support.  Please please try to get there – if not for every day of the eight, for a few days, and if not for a full day every day, for a few hours every day.  It is so important that victims/complainants know there are people there in the courtroom supporting them.

If you do go be sure to find out what if any publication bans are in place.  Usually there is a ban on the publication of the names of the complainants and anything which might identify them, beyond that all that is said and seen in the courtroom is usually reportable. BUT, please ensure that you know what if any bans there are in place.  If you are unsure, check with courtroom staff during a break.

We will all be waiting for news.  Pass on any news, and please send links to all media coverage.

And, yes, as always, keep the complainants – and their families –  in your prayers.  These are stressful days for all.

*****

Paul Leroux‘ trial was scheduled to start today (Thanksgiving Monday) at 10 am at the Battleford, Saskatchewan courthouse.  I didn’t realize when I originally posted the dates that the start date is was Thanksgiving Monday.  Perhaps an error in booking the court?  or, perhaps it makes no difference that it’s a holiday?  I see no coverage so think perhaps it will be starting tomorrow.

I urge those in the Battleford and surrounding areas who can do so to please attend.  The trial is booked to last three weeks – if you can’t attend for all those days then please try to squeeze in a few days of each week, or a few hours each day.  It’s so very important for the complainants to know there is support in that courtroom.

As I said above, if you do go be sure to find out what if any publication bans are in place.  Usually there is a ban on the publication of the names of the complainants and anything which might identify them, beyond that all that is said and seen in the courtroom is usually reportable. BUT, please ensure that you know what if any bans there are.  If you are unsure, check during a break with courtroom staff.

As always, please keep the complainants in your prayers, and please send links to any and all media coverage .

*****

Someone heard via the grapevine that I was looking for a picture of Father John E. Sullivan!  And there was the pic in my mailbox when I checked after my  family headed home this evening  🙂   I will post it in a few minutes.

Enough for now,

Sylvia

This entry was posted in Accused or charged, Canada, Clerical sexual predators, Scandal, Trials and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

10 Responses to We will be waiting

  1. dispicable you says:

    I have enjoyed reading the comments on this site and it has really helped me move forward in the healing process, but the question I have for the group is this

    If a victim has come forward and the individual has been charged and the victim wants their name released to the public and the lawyer says it is not a good idea, but the victim still wants it out there how does he or she do so.

    • Sylvia says:

      The victim has to have the publication ban removed through the courts. I believe the best way to do that is to contact the Crown attorney who is handling or who handled the case. If the victim has a lawyer he/she could also ask the lawyer to do what must be done to have the ban lifted.

      I know there are victims out there who have had the publication ban on your name lifted. Would you please give “dispicable you” details as to how to proceed?

      I will mention here that the general public usually assumes that a publication ban is in place at the request of the victim. Those of you who have come forward know that the ban is usually in place whether you request it or not. A ban is fine and indeed welcome for the many victims who are initially terrified that they might be identified, but there are others who, like this victim, do not want a ban. I was shocked when I discovered some years back that victims actually have to have that ban lifted legally. I naively assumed that if victims did not want to retain their anonymity they are free to identify themselves and speak publicly. That’s not the case.

      Anyway, those who have taken this step please pass on the word as to how to proceed.

    • 1 abandoned sheep says:

      The victim can always go to the Press on their own. It probably would be advisable to speak to a Lawyer first, but, that is not necessary.

  2. Sylvia says:

    I don’t think that’s quite true i abandoned sheep. If there is a publication ban which has been put in place by the court the victim would be violating a court order. As strange as it may sound, there could be legal ramifications for a victim who decides to violate such a court order. I don’t agree with this, but that’s the way it is. Best to get the ban lifted legally.

    If there is no publication ban in place, then there’s no problem.

    If there was a publication ban and the case has gone to court and verdict has been rendered and it’s ‘all over,’ the publication ban still stands until such time as the victim asks to have it removed by the courts.

    • 1 abandoned sheep says:

      Sylvia, it has been my understanding that a publication ban exists ONLY on those matters dealt with in Court.
      If the Court is not aware of certain other cases, it can not ban them being publicized. This I was told by a Judge years ago.

  3. Sylvia says:

    Yes, i abandoned sheep, and in this instance the case is either currently before the courts or has been through the courts.

    “dispicable you” wrote: “If a victim has come forward and the individual has been charged and the victim wants their name released to the public …”

    If charges were not or had not been laid it would be a non issue, but, by the sound of it charges have been laid and the issue therefore is that of a publication ban tied into those criminal charges.

    As I say, I know of cases where victims were obliged to remain silent and remain anonymous – against their wishes – because of a publication ban put into effect during criminal proceedings.

    wait it out while

    • dispicable you says:

      Thank you all for your help Guess I just gotta wait till the crown says they made up their mind to lift the ban but i tell you it feels like they arestopping me from facing my predator and not giving my chance at letting them know how i feel.

  4. Mike Blum says:

    I requested the crown to lift the court ordered publication ban on my name. It was only lifted when Don Grecco plead guilty. It was done by the judge in the courtroom. I was tired of being regarded as a nameless, faceless victim.
    If you get the ban lifted be ready for the media, when I walked out of the courtroom that day I had cameras and interviews from newspapers, radios stations and television. It can be a bit overwhelming after being in a ban for so long.
    Good luck and for me it was a good thing to have the publication ban lifted.

    Mike

    • dispicable you says:

      Thank you Mike for your words. This is what I want and I am sure the media will want to talk, but They will have to find me. I no longer live in the town that it happened in. The lawyer told me that he doesn’t think it is a good Idea and I told him anyways that I wanted it lifted. Like you I am tired of being a faceless Victim.

  5. Mike Fitzgerald says:

    Hey Mike!
    Way to go! I’m glad it feels good, and it’s about time, eh? We’ll talk “turkey” real soon. Take care. Mike.

Leave a Reply