YOU MUST READ THIS: #auspol Abbott's sworn testimony when called to help priest be believed instead of the child.

After hearing Abbott the Magistrate was not persuaded. He was convinced beyond doubt the priest was guilty of the paedophilia assault and sentenced 12mths gaol. On appeal the priest won. The Judge took Abbott's words into account. Later more paedophile complaints saw the Pope defrock the priest.

Q. You are Anthony John Abbott?
you live at xxxxxxxxxxxx Forestville?
A. I do.
Q. Since 1994 you've been a member of the House of 10
Representatives, representing the seat of Warringah?
A. That's correct.
Q. Prior to that, you were the Executive Director of
Australian's for Constitutional Monarchy? 15
A. I was.
Q. And prior to that you were the press secretary and legal adviser to the then Leader of the Opposition, Dr Hewson?
A. Political adviser and press secretary. 20
Q. You first met the defendant in February 1984?
A. That's correct.
Q. When both of you were at St Patrick's College at Manly? 25
A. Yes.
Q. It was your intention to become a priest?
A. At that time.
30
Q. And you were/there during 1984 and 1985?
A. That's right.
Q. As was the defendant?
A. That's correct. 35
Q. And in 1986 you did pastoral work in the Emu Plains area?
A. That's correct.
40
Q. And in 1987 you discontinued your training from the priesthood?
A. That's correct.

Q. You kept up your friendship with the defendant? 45
A. From time to time, yes.
Q. And you saw him?
A. From time to time, perhaps once or twice every twelve months.
50
Q. And you've kept up that friendship until this day?
A. That's correct.
First of all, how would you describe him as a man? 55
An extremely upright and virtuous man. I guess one of
things that I liked very much about John when I first him, was his maturity, intellectual, social, emotional he was, to that extent I guess, a beacon of humanity at

N18/02/97 155 ABBOTT X
How did he appear to get on with his peers at the at Manly?
Obviously we have different relations with different 5
people. John got on extremely well with some, less well
with others. I guess one of the things that marked John out
from his peers at the seminary was he was a man with high expectations of himself and others and I can recall on
occasions being more than a little annoyed with him, 10
because, you know, he would want to bring me up to the mark,
bring me back to the path of virtue from time to time and this didn't always go over too well with me. And I guess it could annoy others as well.
15
Q. But as far as his own conduct was concerned, did you
ever become aware of anything which would in any way question his beliefs and his dedication as a priest?
A. Never.
20
Q.• And you've come all the way from Sydney today to give
this evidence?
A. I have indeed.
Q. You do have other duties to perform? 25
A. I have an electorate to represent and a ministry to
assist.

<NO CROSS-EXAMINATION

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