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  Sister Accuses Order of Cover-up

By Shannon Deery
Herald Sun
September 8, 2011

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/accused-priest-too-old-for-justice/story-fn7x8me2-1226131660810

THE twin sister of a convicted Salesian paedophile priest has hit out at the order, saying it knowingly covered up sex crimes that her brother committed.

Margaret Harrod, herself a former Salesian nun, said she approached Salesian officials with concerns about her brother, Michael Aulsebrook, about three years ago.

She said her concerns were dismissed and she was told to "go away".

Aulsebrook was last month jailed for sex offences on students at Rupertswood College, Sunbury, during the 1980s.

Ms Harrod said she went to officials because she was concerned her brother had molested a number of students after she witnessed him "inappropriately touch the groin" of a young girl.

Allegations had already been made against her brother and at least one victim had received a payout from the Salesians.

He had also been stood down as principal from a Salesian college in South Australia.

Ms Harrod said officials told her that they had spoken to Aulsebrook just weeks before she came forward about an opportunity of again working with the Salesians in a lay capacity.

"I was told I was ruining his life by coming forward," she said.

Ms Harrod said the order chose to ignore her brother's history.

"The first allegations were made before he was ordained, and yet he still became a priest and eventually principal," she said. "The Salesians knew Michael was guilty of assault. I believe he assaulted more than one person.

"It hurts to talk about my brother like this, but the point has come when I can no longer keep quiet."

Salesian provincial Fr Frank Moloney confirmed Ms Harrod had contacted the order.

But he said he was amazed that Ms Harrod considered the Salesian response to be dismissive of her claims.

 
 

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