AUSTRALIA
The Australian
RICK WALLACE
JournalistMelbourne
@rickwallaceoz
Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton got out of the blocks early today to fend off claims of conspiracy from Cardinal George Pell as the issue of the sexual abuse claims against the cleric flared again.
Cardinal Pell responded overnight to ABC reports containing interviews from alleged victims of abuse at his hands in the 1970s to deny all allegations. He also accused rogue police and the national broadcaster of a “conspiracy to pervert the course of justice”.
The Vatican-based cardinal has also called for a criminal investigation be carried out into his claims.
But Mr Ashton said on radio yesterday morning: “We (Victoria Police) haven’t provided the ABC with materials.
“Anyone who saw that show last night on the ABC it was clear that the source of that information was the victims,’’ he said.
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