Catholic Bishop Max Davis Responds to "Horrifying" Child Sexual Abuse Allegations in Video

By Joanna Menagh
ABC News
February 11, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-11/catholic-bishop-max-davis-new-norcia-child-sexual-abuse-trial/7158022

PHOTO: Max Davis, pictured arriving at court on Monday, denies abusing five students at St Benedict's College in New Norcia. (ABC News: Rebecca Trigger)

A Perth court has heard a Catholic Bishop tell police he found it "distressing" and "horrifying" to have been accused of child sexual abuse dating back more than 45 years.

Max Davis, most recently the Catholic Bishop of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), made the comments when he was being interviewed by detectives three years ago about an allegation he abused a boarding student, 13, at Saint Benedict's College in New Norcia in 1969.

A recording of the police interview was played to the District Court on Wednesday, where Mr Davis is on trial accused of abusing the boy and four others when he was a teacher and dormitory master at the school from 1969 and 1972.

At the time of the interview, in April 2013, police had received a complaint from only one former student alleging he was sexually abused after going to see Mr Davis about a sex education class he had given.

Mr Davis told police he never taught any sex education classes at the school, and described the abuse allegation as "completely untrue".

He said what was being alleged "didn't take place", and told police he "couldn't presume to understand" why the complainant had identified him "at all".

In an opening address to the jury at the start of the trial, Mr Davis's lawyer Seamus Rafferty said his client had always found the conduct alleged against him "completely and utterly abhorrent".

Mr Rafferty said Mr Davis did not dispute that the students were sexually abused, but maintained he was not responsible.

Mr Rafferty said there were two other clergy members who could have been the abuser, including a priest who was removed from the college after Mr Davis reported him for inappropriate behaviour towards students.

The court has heard Mr Davis was the Catholic Bishop of the ADF, but had stood aside from his duties when he was charged two years ago.

The prosecution has completed its case and Mr Davis is expected to testify in his own defence when the trial resumes.

The trial is expected to run into next week.