George Pell voluntarily interviewed by Victoria Police in Rome over historic child abuse allegations





Cardinal George Pell is one of the most prominent and controversial figures in the Australian Catholic Church. Look back at his career.

George Pell voluntarily interviewed by Victoria Police in Rome over historic child abuse allegations

By Louise Milligan, staff

26 Oct 2016,

Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal George Pell, has been interviewed by Victoria Police detectives over historic child abuse allegations.

In a statement, Victoria Police confirmed to the ABC's 7.30 program that "three members of Victoria Police travelled to Rome last week where Cardinal George Pell voluntarily participated in an interview regarding allegations of sexual assault".

"As a result of the interview further investigations are continuing. We are not prepared to comment further at this time," the statement said.

The ABC's 7.30 program revealed the allegations on July 27, with complainants Lyndon Monument and Damian Dignan interviewed on the program about alleged inappropriate touching at Ballarat's Eureka pool in the 1970s.

Mr Monument and Mr Dignan allege the Cardinal repeatedly touched their genitals and anuses while playing a game in the pool, where he would throw them and other boys up into the air.

But the wife of a former manager of the pool said she never saw Cardinal Pell display any behaviour that concerned her.

Pell's career in the Catholic Church

Mr Dignan told 7.30 he was excited and relieved by today's developments.

"[It's] relief for me. Probably relief for my children. Relief for my ex-wife," he said.

"Thank you to the ABC and thank you to the police and thank you to the support groups who helped me in the last 12 months.

"It's not over yet, it's only the start."

Another man, Torquay resident Les Tyack, had also made a complaint to Taskforce SANO about Cardinal Pell allegedly standing naked in a change room in front of boys at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club in the 1980s.

The program also revealed there are complaints relating to the Cardinal's time as Archbishop of Melbourne about his conduct with choirboys at St Patrick's cathedral in the 1990s.

Cardinal Pell has vehemently denied the accusations which remain untested, and accused the ABC of mounting a smear campaign against him.

The Cardinal's office released a statement today repeating his July rejection of "all and every allegation of sexual abuse".

"[The Cardinal] will continue to cooperate with Victoria Police until the investigation is finalised. The Cardinal has no further comment at this time," it said.


 














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