AUSTRALIA
The Australian
June 14, 2017
DENNIS SHANAHAN
Political Editor
Canberra
Police are still canvassing for new evidence and allegations against George Pell in relation to sexual abuse claims almost a month after Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said a decision on laying charges would be made “fairly quickly”.
Victoria Police confirmed last night that a decision on laying charges was expected “soon”.
Last week, however, police were still investigating the claims and interviewed at least three men who were choirboys at St Patrick’s Cathedral between 1996 and 2001, when Cardinal Pell was the archbishop of Melbourne
The Australian understands the police were told none of the men had any knowledge of any abuse when they were there and they had offered to make further statements for police or in court.
Police have been investigating allegations of sexual abuse by Cardinal Pell for more than two years, including that he sexually abused two choir boys at St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne, and have twice sought advice from the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions in the past year.
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