Southwell inquiry
The Southwell inquiry was an investigation by
An inquiry, but not an inquisition
Hon AJ Southwell, QC, a retired judge and an
Allegations dating back to 1975
The complainant claimed to have first made the allegations to his wife around 1975. Southwell says: "As to motive, ... extensive enquiries made on behalf of the respondent (Pell) have unearthed no evidence of any other matter or incident which might have aroused spite or malice on the part of the complainant towards either the respondent or the Church. On the other hand, the respondent has had a strong motive to push memory (if there ever was memory) of these fleeting incidents by a 19 year old into the recesses of the mind, from which there could be no recall."[3] Southwell found no evidence that the complaint was made through vindictiveness or desire for compensation.
Lack of credibility and evidence from the accuser
Southwell concluded: "I accept as correct the submissions of Mr Tovey [for the complainant] that the complainant, when giving evidence of molesting, gave the impression that he was speaking honestly from an actual recollection. However, the respondent, also, gave me the impression that he was speaking the truth. ... In the end, and notwithstanding that impression of the complainant, bearing in mind the forensic difficulties of the defence occasioned by the very long delay, some valid criticism of the complainant's credibility, the lack of corroborative evidence and the sworn denial of the respondent, I find I am not 'satisfied that the complaint has been established', to quote the words of the principal term of reference."[4]
Doubts about the handling of the accusation
Doubts about the handling of the accusation arose following the publication by the Australian Herald Sun on 6 October 2002 of details about the accuser, whose anonymity had been preserved in previous media coverage. As relayed by the
References
- ^ Report of an inquiry into an allegation of sexual abuse against Archbishop George Pell, Commissioner Hon. A.J. Southwell, 2002, p.5
- ^ Report of an inquiry into an allegation of sexual abuse against Archbishop George Pell, Commissioner Hon. A.J. Southwell, 2002, p.5.
- ^ Report of an inquiry into an allegation of sexual abuse against Archbishop George Pell, Commissioner Hon. A.J. Southwell, 2002, p.9.
- ^ Report of an inquiry into an allegation of sexual abuse against Archbishop George Pell, Commissioner Hon. A.J. Southwell, 2002, p.12.
- ^ "Archbishop Pell: A Case Study in False Accusations - Australian Situation Reveals Problems with Procedures". Zenit. 19 October 2002. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011.