Former Catholic archbishop Philip Wilson to serve sentence at home; sex abuse survivor called 'rubbish'

By Nancy Notzon
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
August 14, 2018

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/philip-wilson-to-serve-sentence-at-home/10117482

The magistrate said Philip Wilson showed no remorse during his trial.

An abuse survivor has been called "rubbish" by a member of Adelaide's former Catholic archbishop Philip Wilson's entourage, in an exchange played out in front of a media scrum.

Wilson had just been told by a Newcastle magistrate he could serve his sentence for concealing historical child sex abuse in home detention as opposed to prison.

As he left the court, Peter Gogarty — who was a victim of paedophile priest Jim Fletcher — asked Wilson to apologise but the clergyman stayed silent.

One of Wilson's supporters asked Gogarty why he did not come forward 40 years ago and later said: "I don't have time for rubbish like you, mate."

An enraged Gogarty began yelling "you pig, you pig" and said he was "beside himself" that Wilson would not apologise.

"Any words for me, Philip?

"Philip will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors?"

Philip, please, something … one word of contrition."

Gogarty told the media "his grace has shown no grace" and demanded better from the Catholic Church.

"Will someone in the Catholic Church say sorry to me and others?"

Wilson's lawyer Ian Temby QC told the court they intend to lodge an appeal application against the cleric's conviction today, but he did not apply for bail and will commence home detention today.

Outside court, Mr Gogarty said he did not come forward 40 years ago because: "I was a child — 40 years ago people opened their mouths to people like Father Wilson, who did absolutely nothing to help them."

In May, Wilson was found guilty of concealing the sexual abuse of children at the hands of Fletcher in the NSW Hunter region in the 1970s.

He was later sentenced to a year's detention with six months non-parole.

Magistrate Robert Stone today told Newcastle Local Court Wilson was eligible for home detention with no particular conditions imposed.

Wilson has spent the last few weeks on bail while he and his sister's home were assessed.

He will now head to his sister's home and will be eligible for parole on February 13, 2019.

When sentenced, Magistrate Robert Stone said there was "no remorse or contrition" showed by Wilson.

Mr Stone said protecting the Catholic Church was the archbishop's "primary motive".

"There are no other rational explanations for the offender's conduct," he said.

However, Mr Stone said he accepted the former Archbishop was unlikely to reoffend.

The sister of Peter Creigh, a key witness in Wilson's trial, said outside court the community was "outraged by the leniency of the sentencing", and laws concerning the concealment of child abuse must be toughened.

"The community believe that concealing child sexual abuse is a serious crime, but the law doesn't reflect that," Louise Bennett said.

Local Pastor Bob Cotton has now started a petition calling on NSW politicians to increase the penalty for concealing abuse and make it serious indictable offence in its own right.

Late last month, Pope Francis accepted Wilson's resignation as Adelaide archbishop after he faced intense pressure to step down.

The Catholic archdiocese of Adelaide released a statement saying Bishop Greg O'Kelly would continue to serve as Archbishop while a replacement was found.

"Bishop O'Kelly said he was keeping Archbishop Wilson in his prayers as he formally commences this stage of his life, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the Church," the statement read.

Wilson remains an ordained bishop within the church with no episcopal authority.