Brother Joe Bonett, one of the three clerics charged with abusing children in his care at St Joseph Home has died, The Times has learnt.

Bro. Bonett, 63, passed away at 4 a.m. yesterday at Dar tal Kleru, in Birkirkara, where he was receiving care for the past year. He was terminally ill with bone cancer.

Bro. Bonett was for some time responsible for the Home. In the 1980s, he was also involved in the Depiro Youth Centre, where he helped organise the football nursery. In 1987, when based at St Joseph Home, Bro. Bonett helped set up the St Venera football club nursery and remained involved until the early 1990s.

The alleged victims were in the international spotlight when they met Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Malta last April after having met Archbishop Paul Cremona.

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