A victim-survivor who was sexually touched by a priest almost six years ago said it was impossible to forget the experience.
“What I experienced was nothing like I imagined,” he wrote in a victim impact statement.
“It broke me in ways I never thought possible.”
In November 2024, Martin Joseph Van Sang Mai was found guilty of five counts of sexually touching two young men in 2019.
Mai was the priest at two parishes in Wollongong on the NSW coast from October 2016 until November 2020.
One of the victims’ statements was read aloud at a sentence hearing on Friday by prosecutor Nerissa Keay to Campbelltown District Court.
The young man attempted to take his own life twice after the abuse he experienced, Ms Keay said.
“The pain seeped into every part of my life,” she read.
“I began doubting my life, the people around me and even my own family.”
The victim wrote he moved to Australia from Vietnam filled with “dreams, passion and hope for a bright future ahead”.
But Mai, a person he trusted, shattered those expectations.
“His words, his touch, his hugs, they all filled me with disgust,” Ms Keay read.
District Court Judge David Barrow thanked the two victims, who listened via a video link, for submitting the statements.
“I hope these proceedings help you recover from the experiences that we heard about in this trial,” he said.
Mai’s lawyer James Glissan told Judge Barrow his client had suffered lifelong impacts from his experience as a child during the Vietnam War.
“It does not excuse the conduct, but it goes some way to explain it,” he said.
Mr Glissan said the 54-year-old had already been in prison since he was found guilty in late 2024 and had lost his position in the priesthood.
But Ms Keay argued this was to be expected.
“He swore to uphold high moral standards and being convicted of his offences would lead him to lose his profession,” she said.
The Diocese of Wollongong reported the victims’ allegations to NSW Police once they became aware in November 2020, Bishop Brian Mascord said in a statement issued in late 2024.
“We take this opportunity to express our deep sorrow for the hurt experienced by all victims and survivors of sexual abuse,” he said.
“Abuse in any form is unacceptable.”
Judge Barrow is expected to deliver his sentence on May 16.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
https://thewest.com.au/news/crime/victim-abused-by-priest-left-doubting-my-life-c-18638726
