Chaplain's Wife Rejects Child Porn Claims

By Rania Spooner
Wa Today
October 17, 2012

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/chaplains-wife-rejects-child-porn-claims-20121017-27r23.html

The wife of a chaplain accused of collecting child pornography while working at an elite girls' school has taken to the stand in defence of her husband.

Karina O'Meara described her husband Matthew O'Meara, 42, as an "honest", "dignified" and "respected" man who preferred to avoid conflict, speaking at his Perth District Court trial today.

Mr O'Meara has pleaded not guilty to four counts of possessing child pornography in relation to two portable thumb drives discovered at Perth College in August 2010.

The father-of-two was linked to one device - found on a neighbouring teacher's desk – when scanned copies of his electoral roll forms were found inside one of its folders – next to thousands of images of illicit material, the court has heard.

The second of the two devices was found inside Mr O'Meara's trousers when he was questioned by police.

The O'Mearas moved to Perth from Melbourne seven months before the allegations, for Mr O'Meara to take up the role of senior chaplain at Perth College, the court heard.

Before the move to Perth, Mr O'Meara had supported his wife through her career moves, which saw the young family relocate to Singapore and Sydney at different times.

Mrs O'Meara said she and her husband, who met more than 20 years ago at university, were "best friends".

"We are a very close team," she told the court.

When asked whether she had ever known her husband to look at children's clothing catalogues for "a little too long", Mrs O'Meara said she had not.

Others who came to the defence of Mr O'Meara's character included Victorian senior counsel Darryl John Williams who holds a titled position within the Anglican Church, and his wife Margaret who described the allegations as "inconceivable".

"It seems inconceivable someone we've known for so long could find himself in this situation," she said.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve and I think his honesty is part of that."

The jury is expected to hear final submissions from defence counsel Laurie Levy and prosecutor Linda Keane over the next two days.