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Former Australian Catholic archbishop has conviction for failing to report abuse overturned

The former Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, has had his conviction for failing to report child sexual abuse allegations overturned.

The 68-year-old former archbishop became the most senior Catholic in the world to be convicted of such an offence in May this year. He was sentenced to 12 months detention in July which he had started serving at a family home in New South Wales four months ago.

The conviction related to a failure to report allegations of child sexual abuse made against a priest, Jim Fletcher, in the 1970s. Fletcher died in jail in 2006.

Newcastle District Court Judge Roy Ellis quashed the conviction on Thursday, reportedly finding Fr Wilson to have been an honest and consistent witness and that he had reasonable doubts he had been told about the abuse.

Fr Philip Marshall, administrator delegate of the Adelaide Archdiocese, said in a statement that the archdiocese welcomed “the conclusion of a process that has been long and painful for all concerned”.  

“We now need to consider the ramifications of this outcome,” he said. “The survivors of child sexual abuse and their families are in our thoughts and prayers, and the Archdiocese remains committed to providing the safest possible environments for children and vulnerable people in our care.”

Wilson resigned from the post of archbishop following his conviction in July.

The Crown has reportedly indicated it will appeal the decision.

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