Witness to recall Tas sex abuse rumours

AUSTRALIA
9 News

AAP

An overseas witness will give evidence to a royal commission that a member of senior Anglican clergy in Australia knew of sexual abuse rumours linked to the Church of England Boys’ Society.

British woman Catherine Hutchinson will on Tuesday be beamed by video link into a Hobart public hearing to give her account of dinner conversation at the home of former state leader of the Anglican diocese, Bishop Phillip Newell.

In 1984 and 1985, when Ms Hutchinson was aged about 18 and dating one of Bishop Newell’s sons, she said quips were made around the family’s Hobart dinner table of CEBS boys having “sore bottoms”.

She alleges Bishop Newell responded to the comments, telling his sons “let’s not have that at the dinner table”.

But in evidence on Monday the bishop denied any such conversation took place.

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