AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Nicole Chettle
A senior Catholic official has told the royal commission into child sexual abuse the information he had about a former priest’s “wicked and criminal” conduct was too vague to report to police.
The commission heard Father Brian Lucas, the National Director of Catholic Mission, was interviewed on the ABC radio current affairs program AM in July 2012, after an ABC Four Corners investigation into the church’s handling of allegations against Father John Farrell.
The commissioner, Justice Peter McClellan, asked Father Lucas to explain why he told the ABC Father Farrell’s behaviour was “wicked and criminal”, but did not report the matter to police.
Father Brian Lucas: The first thing the police would say is: ‘Well what, where and to whom and when?’ None of which I could have answered.
Justice Peter McClellan: No, but they could have made their own inquiries couldn’t they, knowing that they had a foundation for them?
Father Lucas: Well they’d already presumably made their inquiries.
Justice McClellan: Well how do you know?
Father Lucas: Well it’s not something, your honour, that I directed my mind to in those circumstances.
Justice McClellan: Well your explanation that there was no utility in going to the police, it doesn’t have any substance does it?
Father Lucas: With due respect I think you can’t go to the police with something as vague as that.
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