AUSTRALIA
ABC – Four Corners
[with video]
By Directed by Annie Macgregor
Updated July 17, 2017
“It was tough, it was brutal. It was very long searching, to get what we wanted.” Former District Attorney
In the American city of Philadelphia, in the early 2000s, a team of skilled and dedicated lawyers embarked on an investigation led by a formidable District Attorney. What they uncovered was the hidden story of one of the worst criminal cover-ups in America’s history.
“I was shocked because it was so sickening, and I was shocked by how many perpetrators there were. I was shocked by how long it had gone on and by how many people knew about it and didn’t do anything.” Former Assistant District Attorney
The investigation began with a simple question: Why, in 50 years, had only one Catholic priest been officially investigated for child abuse? In a city with a strong Catholic presence, this seemed remarkable, at a time when revelations of clergy abuse were making headlines across America. Shocking cases in another US city, Boston, prompted DA Lynne Abraham to ask whether the same thing could have occurred in her town.
“I got together a group of my investigators and I said… I think it is worth a look and an investigation.” Former District Attorney, Lynne Abraham
What they uncovered – a hidden history of abuse and deception – shook the investigators and their community to the core.
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