Abuse cover-up: Catholic Archbishop in Australia sentenced to twelve months in prison

The 67-year-old was already guilty in May because of the cover-up of abuse cases. Now the penalty is fixed. He doesn't have to go to prison.

Abuse cover-up: Catholic Archbishop in Australia sentenced to twelve months in prison

The Archbishop of Adelaide was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in an abuse scandal. The District Court in Newcastle, Australia, north of Sydney, announced sentence against Philip Wilson. The 67-year-old had already been pleaded guilty in May because he had not reported accusations of child abuse against anor clergyman in 1970s to police.

"The whole community has been destroyed in so many ways through decades of abuse and its concealment," he said in general about institutional child abuse. "We're all poorer for what happened."

Application for probation after six months possible

The Catholic Archbishop will serve information after prison sentence as house arrest. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at an early stage. After six months, he may submit an application for probation.

A present abuse victim was somewhat disappointed after judge's verdict on sentence. "In my opinion, he has gotten a little too easily," he said to reporters. But he was happy about verdict.

Date Of Update: 03 July 2018, 12:02