AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
December 2, 2015
Beau Donelly
A paedophile priest who forced a young girl against his erect penis and made her kiss him inside a confessional had committed no offences, according to Victoria Police at the time.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said he was surprised police closed an investigation into Doveton parish priest Peter Searson in 1990 after a victim reported being indecently assaulted by him.
Police concluded there were “nil offences disclosed” after interviewing victim Julie Stewart, then aged 15.
“All Searson has done is sit the child on his knee and get the child to kiss him on the cheek,” the police report said. “Stewart stated that when she sat on his knee he dragged her up and onto his lap where she felt his erect penis rubbing on her back.”
Mr Fontana told the child abuse royal commission on Wednesday that on the evidence available at the time police should have concluded that at least an indecent assault had been committed.
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