Man who 'beat up priest for molesting him when he was seven' sobs as he recounts the horrific abuse - and says he is looking forward to facing attacker in court



A man accused of beating up a priest who he says molested him as a seven-year-old boy sobbed as he recounted the horrific details of the alleged abuse.

In the heartbreaking interview, Will Lynch added that he is looking forward to facing his abuser in court at the assault trial this week - as he was never dragged before a judge for his alleged crimes.

'I've always wanted the opportunity to bring the truth into the light,' said Lynch, who now lives in San Fransisco, California. 'I did [it] for compelling reasons. There's a system here that's broken.'

Scroll down for video



Pain: Will Lynch sobs as he recounts his alleged sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest when he was just seven years old. Lynch is in court this week accused of beating up the priest in 2010

Explaining why he pummeled Father Jerold Lindner in May 2010, leaving him with bruises and in need of stitches, Lynch told the San Jose Mercury News : 'I did everything I could do under the law.

'Where does my moral obligation to myself, to society... supersede the law of the land and his rights?'

In the interview , he recounted the horrific abuse during religious camping trips in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1975 - when he was seven and his brother was just four.

He sobbed as he detailed how Father Jerry cornered him in his tent and forced him to perform a sex act on him. Later, he dragged the boy to his own tent - where Lynch's brother was already waiting.

'I felt like I was being led to the slaughter,' he said. 'I remember thinking at that time, I'm not going to get out of this. I thought he was going to kill me.'

There, he allegedly raped Lynch as he was forced to commit a sex act on his younger brother. Father Jerry said if the two boys ran for help, he would kill their little sister.

'He broke me': Lynch recalled how he was allegedly raped and forced to perform a sex act on his own brother

Redemption: Will Lynch is pictured grinning in his mug shot after he allegedly beat up the priest who molested him as a boy (right). He left the priest, then 65, with bruises and needing stitches 'He broke me, he totally broke me,' Lynch, 44, said as he wiped away his tears. ' I can't even fathom as an adult how somebody could do that.' He said he is still plagued with guilt at how he was unable to save his younger brother - 'I let myself and my family down' - and the pain and shame of the abuse means they now rarely talk. 'We don't have anything to do with each other,' he said. 'Every time we see each other... there's just this component. It's a reminder of terrible things.' The abuse ruined other family relationships as he angrily lashed out at anyone in authority, he said. By fourth grade, he was smoking pot, and by seventh, he was dealing it and drinking heavily. When he was 15, he tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrists.

'Abuser': Father Jerold Lindner, known as Father Jerry, allegedly sexually abused at least 12 children Hopes: Lynch, right as a child, said he cannot wait for the priest, left, to finally face a judge when he testifies in the assault trial. He was never arrested as his victims spoke out too many years after 'The one thing people don't really understand about this whole thing, the collateral damage is just ridiculous,' Lynch said. 'There's no fear. What are you going to do, kill me? Go ahead, take me out of my misery.'

'I did everything I could do under the law. Where does my moral obligation to myself and to society supersede the law of the land and his rights?' Will Lynch

Finally, his brother revealed to his baffled parents the reasons behind Lynch's destructive behaviour. Lynch was furious at first, but then felt enormous relief that the secret was out.

He then began asking around and found a total of 12 children who had been molested on the camping trips, including Lindner's sister, niece and nephew. But the priest was never prosecuted as the victims reported the abuse long after the time set by the statute of limitations had passed. To meet this, Lynch would have had to testify within just six years.

Instead, Lynch and his brother - as well as many other victims - sued the Jesuits and each received a $187,000 pay off. In total, the group has paid out millions to Father Jerry's victims.

Innocence: Lynch said he feels guilt he was unable to protect his younger brother, pictured

During the payout process, Lynch learned Lindner had been evaluated twice at a psychiatric hospital program for Catholic priests accused of molestation - yet was allowed to return to work.

Lindner was sent to the Jesuit's Sacred Heart retirement and medical center , which riled Lynch even further.

'I have to live with, OK, this guy is sitting up here with impunity in Los Gatos, one of the finest places in the country, by the vineyard, overlooking the valley,' he said.

'There's 18 educational institutions around that place, ranging from preschools, to high schools, to private schools, to charter schools, to day care, to community centers.'

Lynch would not detail what led him to attack Lindner that particular day, but the details are likely to come out in the court case, which starts on Wednesday.

No way out: The boys were allegedly cornered in their tents while on family camping trips in the Santa Cruz mountains (pictured), where Father Jerry was a spiritual adviser

Lynch could have negotiated a plea deal and received no more than a year behind bars, but he instead chose to go to trial and could face up to four years in jail if convicted.



'I want to take responsibility for what I've done,' Lynch said. 'I don't think I'm above the law like the church and Father Jerry.'

Lynch said if he is convicted and sent to jail, he has no regrets. He told the Mercury News he has felt peace and satisfaction since the alleged attack in 2010 - and it will only get stronger at the trial.

'For the first time in my life I have a voice,' Lynch said. 'I'm empowered. I'm kind of in control of my destiny and that's all I've ever wanted.'

Lindner has denied the accusations.

See below for video - WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN









