Investigators from Victoria police have delivered their brief of evidence relating to Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, to the Department of Public Prosecutions for consideration.
Police have been investigating allegations that Pell exposed himself to three young boys at Torquay life-saving club in Victoria in the summer of 1986 or 1987.
Another two allegations involve two former St Alipius students, who allege Pell repeatedly touched their genitals while swimming with them at the Eureka pool in Ballarat in 1978-79. At the time, Pell was episcopal vicar for education in the Ballarat diocese.
Pell has repeatedly rejected all allegations of abuse.
Detectives travelled to Rome in October to interview Pell about the historic allegations of sexual assault. Pell manages the Vatican’s finances. Pell voluntarily participated in police interviews.
The Office of Public Prosecutions will now consider the evidence and make a recommendation as to whether police should drop the investigation, investigate further or lay charges.
On Monday, the royal commission into institutional responses into child sexual abuse heard that 7% of Australia’s Catholic priests have been accused of abusing children in the six decades since 1950.
