After last night’s ABC 7.30 programme, which alleged that there is an active investigation against Cardinal George Pell over historic child sex abuse allegations, Pell has lashed out against the broadcaster and the Victorian Police, alleging a conspiracy between the two to pervert the course of justice.
The show aired comments from Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton, who confirmed that a year-long investigation had been conducted into Pell over multiple allegations of abuse. These claims were first reported in the Herald Sun in February, alleging he was being investigated for sexually abusing between five and ten boys.
Pell’s office issued a statement arguing that the ABC had no right to destroy his reputation like this:
The ABC has no licence to destroy the reputation of innocent people and Cardinal Pell, like all those who have allegations against them that have not been tested by the Courts, is entitled to the presumption of innocence – not immediate condemnation.
The statement suggested that there was some manner of conspiracy between ABC and the Victorian Police which should be promptly investigated:
It seems there has been leaking of information and allegations by elements of the Victorian Police to the ABC.This is consistent with previous patterns of improper and illegal disclosure of information from such sources to a variety of media outlets. Such information has in the past repeatedly been demonstrated to be inaccurate and unfounded.In a context where police themselves have suggested, accurately or otherwise, that the making of charges is under review by relevant authorities, these disclosures and consequent publicity by the ABC clearly are apt and calculated deliberately to influence and compromise relevant judicial and prosecutorial processes.The Cardinal calls for an investigation to assess whether any actions of elements of the Victoria Police and the ABC program amount to a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The Cardinal has cooperated in the past and will continue to cooperate through the proper and appropriate civil authorities.
The statement ends by saying that he “has done nothing wrong”. We’ll update you on this story as it develops.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Photo: Getty Images.
