BishopAccountability.org
 
 

CARDINAL George Pell Interviewed by Vic Police in Rome over Sexual Assault Allegations

9 News
October 27, 2016

http://www.9news.com.au/National/2016/10/26/12/51/Victoria-Police-officers-interview-Cardinal-George-Pell-over-sexual-assault-allegations

Police said Pell "voluntarily participated" in the interview. (AAP)

Cardinal George Pell has voluntarily participated in an interview with Victoria Police in Rome, about allegations of sexual assault.

Three officers travelled to Rome last week to interview Cardinal Pell, Victoria Police said in a statement.

Investigations are continuing as a result of the interview, the police statement advised.

“We are not prepared to comment further at this time,” it read.

Victoria Police in mid-August revealed it was considering laying charges over alleged historical sexual assaults in Ballarat between 1976 and 1980 and East Melbourne between 1996 and 2001.

Two men had accused Pell of groping their genitals in the 1970s while another claimed he saw the priest expose himself to young boys.

Cardinal Pell has previously strongly rejected the claims, describing them as "without foundation and utterly false".

Investigators in July sent a brief of evidence to the Office of Public Prosecutions in Victoria but they haven't revealed what advice was received in return.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton earlier this year said "anything is possible" when asked if charges could be laid against Cardinal Pell.

Cardinal Pell, 75, is a former Ballarat priest and Melbourne archbishop who now works in the Vatican for Pope Francis.

A spokeswoman for Cardinal Pell confirmed he was voluntarily interviewed by Victoria Police in Rome.

"The Cardinal repeats his previous rejection of all and every allegation of sexual abuse and will continue to co-operate with Victoria Police until the investigation is finalised," the spokeswoman says in a brief statement.

Cardinal Pell has no further comment at this time, the statement says.

 

 

 

 

 




.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.