Adelaide Archbishop Phillip Wilson funding own defence against charge of concealing child sex abuse

By Josephine Lim, Ellen Whinnett
Herald Sun
July 2, 2017

https://goo.gl/GckHKP

Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson has been charged with concealing child sex abuse and will face a Newcastle court in November.

Cardinal George Pell, who is facing multiple counts of sexual abuse that officials allege occurred years ago. Photo by Andrew Medichini

The Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide has confirmed that Wilson, who was charged in March 2015, was paying his own bills.

He stands accused of failing to give police information about the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy in 1971 by the now-dead paedophile priest James Fletcher in Maitland, NSW.

Wilson has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His lawyers made three unsuccessful attempts in the Local Court, NSW Supreme Court and NSW Court of Appeal to have the charge quashed or permanently stayed.

Last Friday, a two-week trial for the matter was set down for late November in the Newcastle Local Court.

A spokeswoman for the archbishop also confirmed he will take several weeks away from his public duties before the trial commences.

Wilson previously took leave from his Adelaide role in 2015 when the charge was first brought against him but he returned to his post in early 2016.

Barrister Bret Walker SC, who represented Kevin Rudd in 2014, took over representation for Wilson last year from Ian Temby QC, who charges up to $1000 an hour.

The Sunday Mail revealed Cardinal George Pell, who was last week charged with historic sexual offences, will not receive funds from the Vatican for his legal team and transport to Australia. This prompted his supporters to set up a fund for his legal bills.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce described court proceedings against Cardinal Pell as “all very sad”.

Mr Joyce made the comment after a meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the highest-ranked Vatican figure after the Pope.

The meeting, scheduled months ago, came three days after Cardinal Pell, 76, was charged by Victoria Police.

Mr Joyce, himself a committed Catholic, confirmed Cardinal Pell had come up in conversation with Cardinal Parolin.

He said he could not say much about the issue because it was before the court.

“It would have been very peculiar if it had not come up,” he said.

“It’s all very sad this is happening … I will give Cardinal Pell the same (entitlement) I would give anyone, innocent until proven guilty.

“We will let the courts follow their process.”