Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Australian ex-Archbishop avoids jail for concealing child sex abuse

By

15 August 2018 10:24 am - 0     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

 

Canberra (dpa) - Former Archbishop Philip Wilson, the most senior Catholic official in the world to be convicted of concealing child sexual abuse, has avoided jail after a judge on Tuesday allowed him to serve his 12-month custodial sentence in home detention.  


Newcastle Local Court magistrate Robert Stone ordered Wilson to be detained at his sister’s home near Newcastle in New South Wales for at least six months, after which he will be eligible for parole, local media reported.  


Wilson showed no emotion when the decision was handed down, according to the news agency Australian Associated Press.  


The 67-year-old Catholic cleric was forced to step down as the archbishop of Adelaide last month after calls for his resignation, including from Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.  


He was convicted in May and later sentenced to 12 months in custody for failing to report to police the repeated sexual abuse of two altar boys by a paedophile priest in the 1970s.   


Wilson, who has been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s, has launched an appeal against his conviction.   


The magistrate said Tuesday given the fact he had previously been of good character, and taking account of his age, mental and physical conditions, a home detention order was an adequate punishment.  

 


Stone accepted Wilson was unlikely to re-offend but had to serve a period of detention to act as a deterrence to others.  


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 0

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H