AUSTRALIA
The Australian
February 7, 2017
Tessa Akerman
Reporter
Melbourne
@TessaAkerman
Allegations of criminal misconduct against Cardinal George Pell have been sent to Victoria’s Office of Public Prosecutions for a second time, The Australian can reveal.
Cardinal Pell, Australia’s highest ranking Catholic, has been accused of sexual offences dating back to the 1970s but the child sex royal commission also heard submissions that he was made aware of allegations concerning pedophile priest Peter Searson in the Melbourne parish of Doveton but failed to take appropriate action to protect children from harm.
It is unclear from the police statement what the potential charges would relate to and Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
“Victoria Police investigators have delivered the brief to the Department of Public Prosecutions for consideration,” a police spokeswoman said.
Sending a second brief to the DPP is significant because it comes after extensive investigations that arose after the first brief was sent back to police by prosecutors, leaving it up to the force to decide whether any charges would be laid.
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