Mairead Ashcroft’s innocence was stolen from her. 76811Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
MAIREAD Ashcroft has a cross to bear.
When she was just eight years old, a predator who cunningly wormed his way into her family stole her innocence.
In the 1970s US citizen, Brother Bernard Hartman’s Marianist Order were working in Catholic schools in Melbourne.
He was based at St Paul’s College in Altona North and through his relationship with the family became a trusted babysitter and tutor.
He groomed her, stalked her and pounced on her – all the while making the eight-year-old feel like she was the one to blame.
“Once it gets to the point of touching, the grooming has already begun – the child already feels to blame,” she said.
“I didn’t want to tell my parents because I didn’t want to get into trouble.”
The alleged abuse went on for three years until Mairead garnered the strength to tell him to stop.
But the damage had already been done. Mairead’s whole future would be affected by those three years.
As an adult, every relationship she would have with a man would be influenced by her past and as a mother, she would be made to doubt the affection she gave to her four children.
Mairead suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and psychogenic seizures but she has not let this hold her back in her fight for justice.
For the past 13 years Mairead has been working to have Br Bernard brought to account.
Protected by the veil of the Catholic Church and his US citizenship – Mairead has been working with police to build a case and have him extradited to face rape charges here in Australia.
In 1999, Mairead received a signed letter from Br Bernard acknowledging the pain he caused her.
In the letter Br Bernard wrote: “I acknowledge the pain you must have experienced … I know I am the cause of this hurt … I am sorry”.
Despite this admission, Br Bernard continues to work as a Brother in the Catholic Church – who failed to report Mairead’s allegations to the police.
“Wouldn’t you think accusation plus admittance would equal incarceration?” she said.
“He’s a criminal but until he faces criminal charges he is not on any registry and could still have access to children.
“The ultimate goal is to see him behind bars.”
Mairead knows that bringing Br Bernard to justice will not change her past but it could change someone else’s future.
To raise awareness for her cause and the plight of all survivors of sexual abuse Mairead will be holding an Impact Walk on Good Friday.
She will be walking from Federation Square to St Patrick’s Cathedral carrying a large wooden cross over her shoulder decorated with her words of impact.
“This is my cross that I’ve been bearing my whole life.”
Mairead is the Vice President of Survivors Australia a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping survivors of child abuse.
For more information about Mairead and her project email info@survivorsaustralia.org
