Arabic version: مدافعون يرفضون اعتذار كريغ سيلفي عبر الإنترنت
According to ABC News, child protection advocates have rejected an online apology by author Craig Silvey, saying it does not adequately address the victim-survivors affected by his offences. Silvey was sentenced on Monday to seven months in prison for possessing and distributing images and videos of prepubescent children being sexually abused.
Silvey published a 9,000-word essay, titled My Apology, after sentencing. In it, he described what he said led to his offending, wrote that he was guilty of the offences and said he was “appalled and mortified” by his conduct. He also said engaging with the material was “reprehensible and indefensible” and caused further suffering.
Bravehearts chief executive Alison Geale said the essay focused too heavily on Silvey’s own regret and plans for redemption. “It begins and ends with him, even in the title,” she said. Geale said the children whose images he accessed were the victims and criticised what she described as euphemistic language that minimised the crime.
Phil Doorgachurn, interim CEO of the National Centre, said an apology should put victims at its centre. He said people could forget that references to “material” concern a child or victim-survivor. Silvey devoted 41 words in the essay to the children depicted in the explicit images and videos he accessed and shared.
Silvey wrote about childhood abuse, family ruptures, financial losses and pressure connected to fame. However, District Court Judge Hayley Cormann said his psychological health was not causative of the offences. In sentencing remarks, she said the material and communications were “repulsive”, “degrading” and “offensive”, and stressed that children harmed by this type of offending are real and traumatised.
Western Australia Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said Silvey had lost credibility and questioned whether his literature would regain popularity. His books were removed from school curricula around Australia after charges were first laid in January, while theatre adaptations were halted.
