First compensation claim for victims of Abbé Pierre’s sexual violence

According to a report by France Info confirmed by AFP

For the first time, an alleged victim of Abbé Pierre has applied for compensation from the Instance nationale indépendante de reconnaissance et réparation (INIRR). The man, who was 13 years old in the early 1980s, described being sexually assaulted in Esteville, the village where Abbé Pierre was born, in the Seine-Maritime département. According to his testimony, he was the victim of touching followed by penetration. This application, filed last month, marks a turning point, as it is the first action taken outside the legal framework to obtain compensation for abuse committed.

An initiative beyond the judicial framework
Last month, the man took the initiative of approaching the INIRR, an organisation set up to support victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. This step, the first of its kind concerning Abbé Pierre, comes after several reports revealing the abuse of the late priest, Henri Grouès, which spanned several decades. Although the priest died in 2007 and the facts are now covered by the statute of limitations, the INIRR’s mission is to recognise and repair the suffering of the victims, by offering financial compensation of up to €60,000.

The aftermath of the case and the search for reparation for other victims

Although this claim is the only one to date among the 33 identified victims of Abbé Pierre, it could pave the way for other similar claims.Only victims who were minors at the time of the attacks can apply to the INIRR, which explains why the majority of Henri Grouès’ victims, who were adults at the time of the attacks, do not have access to this body.For these victims, the Emmaus movement, which commissioned the firm Egaé to investigate the events, is currently considering a specific scheme to enable them to receive compensation.