AUSTRALIA
The Courier
By Melissa Cunningham
Dec. 16, 2015.
A Catholic priest has denied fabricating aspects of his testimony to a child sex abuse royal commission in an attempt to “save” Cardinal George Pell.
Mentone parish priest Rev John Walshe has told the commission Cardinal Pell looked “shocked and crestfallen” after speaking to sex abuse victim David Ridsdale, who alleges Cardinal Pell asked what it would take to keep him quiet during a 1993 telephone conversation.
Counsel assisting the commission Angus Stewart SC suggested Fr Walshe was being untruthful in evidence and had “no recollection” of the phone call occurring or Cardinal Pell’s demeanour following it.
“Father I put to you that you fabricated these aspects of your statement to save your good friend Cardinal Pell, isn’t that right?”
“I absolutely deny that,” Fr Walshe responded.
Mr Stewart pressed him further: “You fabricated these parts of your statement to assist your good friend George Pell, isn’t that right?”
“No,” Fr Walshe said.
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