Luyckx says that Child Focus is concerned about the years of problems at Pichal. “He already struggled with sexual problems when he was 8 years old, and around the age of twenty he sought help from an institution,” says the lawyer.
Pichal would place the blame on drug use, but Luyckx finds that “not convincing”.
Luyckx refers to a letter dated March 18, 2024 that Pichal sent to Heidi De Pauw, then CEO of Child Focus. Luyckx says that Pichal writes that he realizes that he is “a perpetrator” and that he is following therapy. Luyckx says that in the letter Pichal accuses Child Focus of “publishing sensational details from the file” through press leaks, and that those around him are equally victims.
“If this is ever over, I want to work with you to ensure that this never happens again,” Pichal wrote in the letter. “Child Focus is not prepared to do this,” Luyckx says firmly to Pichal as he reads parts of the letter.
