Detectives investigating allegations of abuse at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne in 1990s

ABC News
December 23, 2015

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Police are investigating allegations of abuse at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne.

Allegations of sexual assault at St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in East Melbourne between 1996 and 2001 are being investigated by Victorian detectives.

Police have released a statement saying male victims were aged 14 at the time of the alleged incidents.

Detectives from the Sano Taskforce, which specialises in investigating historical sexual assault and child abuse matters, have appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

"Detectives would like to speak to anyone who was a victim of a sexual assault, or anybody with any information relating to any alleged sexual assaults, committed at the St Patrick's Cathedral between 1996 and 2001," Victoria Police spokeswoman Sharon Darcy said in a statement.

"Victoria Police is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those people who prey on children no matter how many years have passed."

They have not provided any other details.

St Patrick's Cathedral is the "mother church" of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The Catholic Church declined to comment on the allegations, but urged anyone with information to come forward.

"We have no comment other than urging people to contact Sano Taskforce should they have any information relating to the alleged sexual assaults being investigated," a Catholic Church spokesman said.