Lawyer Urges Police Quizzing of Cardinal Keith O'Brien

By Paul Jeeves
The Express
March 5, 2013

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/381849/Lawyer-urges-police-quizzing-of-cardinal-Keith-O-Brien

Keith O’Brien stepped down from his role as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh

POLICE were last night urged to investigate sex abuse claims against Catholic cardinal Keith O’Brien after one of Britain’s top lawyers lodged an official complaint.

Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole for successfully getting celebrities off driving convictions, has written to the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police David Strang demanding action.

He acted after hearing the Church plans to launch its own internal investigation after the 74-year-old cardinal admitted there were times his “ sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal”.

Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh last week.

It came a day after three priests and a former priest made allegations of “inappropriate” behaviour to the Vatican, dating back 30 years.

Mr Freeman said: “I felt compelled to make a formal complaint to trigger a full criminal investigation.

“I was shocked to hear there is to be an internal investigation only. This will be heard behind closed doors and the full findings would not be published.

This isn’t justice. Justice needs to be seen to be done and the Catholic Church has a moral and legal obligation to co-operate fully with any criminal investigation.”

The former leader of the Church in Scotland, who has retired after initially disputing the “anonymous and non-specific” allegations, had issued a statement saying “To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness.

“To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise.”

I was shocked to hear there is to be an internal investigation only. This will be heard behind closed doors and the full findings would not be published.

Mr Freeman