Two people who were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses as children have alleged the church hierarchy ignored their claims of abuse at home.

David Bonicci claimed a male relative subjected him to years of physical and sexual abuse.

He told A Current Affair his sister Danielle, who took her own life 12 years ago, was also abused.

"If we didn't participate, we'd be locked in a cupboard for days," Mr Bonicci said.

David Bonicci was raised a Jehovah's Witness and claimed he was abused by a family member. (A Current Affair)

As loyal Jehovah's Witnesses, speaking up would bring disrepute on his family, but Mr Bonicci claimed he nonetheless raised the alarm time after time.

"At first I thought it was part of the church," he said.

Mr Bonicci and his family were members of the Jehovah's Witness church in Toowoomba, Queensland, for several years.

He claimed that during that time, the elders of the community were made aware of the alleged abuse he claimed to be suffering.

David Bonicci said his sister Danielle was also abused. (A Current Affair)

Mr Bonicci claimed that on two separate occasions, he lived with elder Dennis Davies for months, while Mr Davies and the organisation investigated his family.

But, Mr Bonicci said, he was always returned home.

He is now suing the church for compensation.

Mr Davies claimed there was "never any suggestion" Mr Bonicci was being "physically or sexually abused".

Church elder Dennis Davies said there was "never any suggestion" of abuse. (A Current Affair)

"I was aware of an unhappy relationship in the family and that was all," he said.

He claimed that had any evidence of physical abuse been present, he would have reported it to police.

However, Mr Bonicci alleged that none of the information he claimed to share with Mr Davies had been given to the authorities.

Shelly Braieoux finds Mr Bonicci's alleged experiences all too familiar.

Shelly Braieoux was also abused. (A Current Affair)

She was also raised as a Jehovah's Witness, and was physically and sexually assaulted by her father.

Ms Braieoux claimed she reported the abuse to the elders in her community.

"They set up a meeting with elders, so that means that three men that were my father's age, that were his friends, and they questioned me in a room at the Kingdom Hall by myself as a teenager," she said.

"They asked me whether or not I enjoyed it, what did I do, how did I react to that, and they repeat the questions over and over."

Ms Braieoux's father was convicted of indecent assault and attempted rape. (A Current Affair)

Ms Braieoux's father was dis-fellowshipped, but not because of her allegations - instead, because he had an affair.

He was later re-instated, but with a series of "restrictions".

"Restrictions are - I'll be really clear - not handing the microphone around at Kingdom Hall, they might not be able to answer a question or give a talk," Ms Braieoux said.

Furious at how her case was handled, Ms Braieoux went straight to the police.

A letter appeared to urge church elders to tamper with abuse reports. (A Current Affair)

Her father was convicted of five counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape.

A Current Affair also obtained a copy of a letter sent to Jehovah's Witnesses by the church hierarchy.

"We are writing to provide a few general reminders about confidential records. There is generally no need for the notes to be retained," part of the letter reads.

Ms Braieoux said in her opinion the church's foundational belief was about "protecting paedophiles".

Mr Bonicci said he would never be able to forgive his abuser.

"I couldn't imagine another young boy growing up like I did, and turning out to be like I am now," he said.

"You can save that kid today."

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