News

Child abuse at church could have led to alcoholism

By Stephanie Cockroft
February 03, 2012

AN alcoholic drank himself to death after struggling to cope with the memories of being sexually abused by a Roman Cathlolic priest when he served as an altar boy, an inquest has heard.

Simon Withrington was found dead in his Aldershot home on November 17 last year, after drinking enough vodka to put him more than six times over the drink-drive limit.

The coroner Andrew Bradley, who took the hearing at Alton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, gave a verdict of misadventure and said it was clear Mr Withrington had not actively tried to kill himself.

The victim's father, who was present at the inquest, said his son had battled with alcohol addiction for a lot of his life.

But it was only last July when it emerged that 38-year-old Mr Withrington's drinking was a way of coping with a troubled childhood.

The inquest heard he was sexually abused as a nine-year-old altar server, but had kept the ordeal secret in order to protect his mother's faith.

For more on this story, see this week's Aldershot News & Mail, out now.

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Simon was a terffic Son, Brother, Uncle, God Father and Friend. He helped so many people thru AA. Just very sad that Simon couldn't fight his own demons. He will truly be missed. He was so loyal to so many people and was a good kind hearted guy. I agree with Aldershot Lass. Yes he was indeed sober for over 10 years and had an incredible life. So many people attended his funeral was just proof enough that Simon was a great guy and truly respected, over 300 people attended and people had said they had never attended a funeral when the crematoriom was spilling out with such love for Simon. A lovely bench in honour of Simon is now in place in Aldershot Park. That wouldn't happen just to anyone. May Simon now truly R.I.P XXX

Farnham Lass
16/02/2012 at 16:25

Shocking story and this kind of thing happens more often than we realise. I know of someone who is an alcholic for the very same reason - abuse in his childhood. Very sad and very hard on families trying to cope.

Katya, North Town
10/02/2012 at 16:28

Nothing here about Simon not touching alcohol for 10 years and all the people that he helped. This man was so much more than an abused child! If you'd attended his funeral and seen the number of people who turned out for him, you would know.