Victims of Child Sex Abuse Covered up by Adelaide's Archbishop Prepare to Sue the Catholic Church for Compensation

Daily Mail
May 24, 2018

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5765351/Victims-child-sex-abuse-covered-Archbishop-prepare-sue-Catholic-Church-compensation.html

The Catholic Church faces legal action from multiple child sex abuse victims after one of its most senior Australian leaders was found to have swept past transgressions under the rug.

Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Edward Wilson, 67, was found guilty on Tuesday of covering up priest James 'Jim' Fletcher's sexual abuse of altar boys throughout the 1970s and 80s.

On Wednesday, Wilson announced that he would be stepping down - thought not resigning - from his role.

Now the victims of Fletcher's abuse are seeking to launch legal action against the Church and seek compensation for their trauma, Adelaide Now reports.

The Catholic Church stands to face legal action from multiple victims of child sex abuse after Archbishop Philip Edward Wilson (pictured) was found guilty of covering up previous incidents of abuse

The cover-up resulted in multiple incidents of sexual abuse against altar boys being swept under the rug - and now the victims are seeking to launch legal action against the Church and seek compensation for their trauma

Some victims are already considering the possibility of taking compensation claims to the civil court after being contacted by their lawyers, it is understood.

One claimed that they are 'definitely going to do it', while another victim who reached a previous settlement with the Church is 'thinking of pursuing them further.

All previous settlements regarding Fletcher were on the basis that the church knew nothing,' they said.

A third victim was undecided.

Lawyers claim the criminal conviction along with the proof of Wilson's cover-up could pose significant ramifications for any civil compensation claim

Wilson was found to have withheld information relating to Fletcher's offending from police between 2004 and 2006.

Lawyers claim the criminal conviction along with the proof of Wilson's cover-up could pose significant ramifications for any civil compensation claim.

Wilson will officially step aside from his role as Archbishop on Friday, when his replacement is expected to be confirmed.

Wilson will officially step aside from his role as Archbishop on Friday, when his replacement is expected to be confirmed

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