“Cardinal George Pell to face police questioning in Rome over historic child sex abuse claims” & related articles

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Daily Mail Online

17 August 2016

  • Victoria Police could fly to Rome to interview Cardinal George Pell
  • Another option is interviewing him via video link over sex abuse claims
  • Police are considering whether to lay charges over historic allegations
  • Allegations go back to 1976-1980 in Ballarat and 1996-2001 in Melbourne
  • Cardinal Pell has strenuously denied all allegations

Police are likely fly to Rome to investigate allegations of historical child sex abuse against Cardinal George Pell.

Police on Wednesday said they are considering whether to lay charges over alleged historical sexual assaults.

The allegations date back to between 1976 and 1980 in Ballarat East, Victoria, and between 1996 and 2001 in East Melbourne.

Two men accused Cardinal Pell of groping their genitals at a pool in the 1970s, while another says he saw the priest expose himself to young boys.

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Victoria Police may fly to Rome to investigate allegations of historical child sex abuse against Cardinal George Pell (pictured)

Victoria Police may fly to Rome to investigate allegations of historical child sex abuse against Cardinal George Pell (pictured)

Cardinal Pell has previously given evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to allegations of child sex abuse

Cardinal Pell has previously given evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to allegations of child sex abuse

The cardinal has denied all allegations.

Victoria Police declined to confirm whether investigators would fly to Rome to interview Cardinal Pell or interview him via video link.

However it is understood police will almost certainly seek to interview him, Brisbane Times reported.

Department of Public Prosecutions has advised police on the historic allegations, Victoria Police said.

Assistant commissioner Steve Fontana is reportedly assessing the claims.

Taskforce Sano – which was established to investigate historical and new allegations of institutional sexual abuse – spent a year investigating the allegations against Cardinal Pell, the Herald Sun revealed in February.

He was allowed to provide testimony via video link and concluded his evidence on March 3.

He was allowed to provide testimony via video link and concluded his evidence on March

Assistant commissioner Steve Fontana

After details of the police investigation were leaked to media, Cardinal Pell formally requested the Victorian government start an inquiry.

Victoria Police denied they were behind the leak and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has been tasked with uncovering the source.

In February, investigators revealed they wanted to fly to Vatican City to interview Cardinal Pell, but needed to wait for senior figures to ‘give them the go-ahead’.

Cardinal Pell has previously given evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to allegations of child sex abuse.

The 74-year-old had submitted a two-page medical report in February which stated a flight to Australia to give evidence would severely impact his health and would possibly lead to ‘heart failure’.

He was allowed to provide testimony via video link and concluded his evidence on March

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Police set to interview Cardinal George Pell

The Age (Australia)

17 Aug 2016, 8:49 a.m.

Cardinal George Pell has denied all the allegations. 

Victoria Police is considering flying to Rome to interview Cardinal George Pell or interview him via videolink over complaints of sexual abuse against the cardinal made by two Ballarat men.

It is believed the brief of evidence has been returned to Victoria Police and assistant commissioner Steve Fontana is assessing the claims.

Fairfax Media understands it is almost certain police will seek to interview Cardinal Pell.

Police are investigating multiple allegations of child abuse against the cardinal, including allegations he touched the genitals of children while they swam at a public pool in Ballarat in the late 1970s.

In a statement, Victoria Police confirmed it has received advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions in relation to allegations of historical sexual assaults committed in Ballarat East between 1976 and 1980, and East Melbourne between 1996 and 2001.

“We have received advice from the DPP and will now take the time to consider it,” A Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

“However as, as with any investigation, it remains a decision for Victoria Police as to whether charges will be laid.”

The cardinal has denied the claims.

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Victoria Police deciding whether to lay charges against Cardinal George Pell

Cardinal George Pell. (AAP)

Police in Victoria won’t confirm if they will travel to Rome to investigate allegations of child sex abuse against Cardinal George Pell.

In a statement, Victoria Police said it is considering whether to lay charges over alleged historical sexual assaults in Ballarat between 1976 and 1980 and East Melbourne between 1996 and 2001.

“We have received advice from the DPP and will now take the time to consider it,” a police spokeswoman said.

Police declined to say whether investigators would fly to Rome to interview Cardinal Pell after two men accused him of groping their genitals in the 1970s, while another says he saw the priest expose himself.

The two Ballarat men, now in their 40s, were then students of St Alipius Parish School.

They provided statements to Victoria Police’s Taskforce Sano last year.

Cardinal Pell has vehemently rejected the allegations saying he has “done nothing wrong”.

With AAP.

2 Responses to “Cardinal George Pell to face police questioning in Rome over historic child sex abuse claims” & related articles

  1. Sylvia says:

    This is going on and on and forever. I suppose given the stature of the accused best to doubly ensure that all “i”s are dotted and “t” s crossed?

    Will he be interviewed, and, if yes, via Skype or in person in Rome? (I for one can not conceive that such an interview would no be conducted in person.)

  2. Mike Fitzgerald says:

    Lee Harvey Oswald claimed his innocence right up to the hour that he was murdered. President Bill Clinton claimed he “did not have sex with that woman”. Jeffrey Dahmer did not think that what e did was wrong.
    Come on George, you’re not that disordered, are you?
    Whole lotta smoke here……………. Mike.

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