The most senior Catholic to be charged with concealing child sexual abuse — Adelaide's Archbishop Philip Wilson — has been found guilty by a New South Wales court, in a landmark ruling.
Key points:
* Wilson concealed child sexual abuse by a fellow priest in the 1970s
* He was assistant parish priest in East Maitland, NSW, at the time
* He could face up to two years in jail
The 67-year-old was accused of covering up abuse by priest Jim Fletcher in the NSW Hunter region in the 1970s.
During his trial, the archbishop said no one had ever come forward to tell him of allegations of child sex abuse during his 40 years as a clergyman.
However, Magistrate Robert Stone cast that claim aside in a ruling that could have ramifications in courts around the country.
Speaking outside court, abuse survivor Peter Gogarty said the verdict was "one of the most significant days in criminal law in Australian history".
"I think this will now open the doors for other jurisdictions to start looking at trying to prosecute people who deliberately looked after their institution and, literally, threw children to the wolves," Mr Gogarty said.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
