| Priest denies lying to help Pell |
A Catholic priest denies making up key parts of his evidence to the child abuse royal commission to "save" his good friend Cardinal George Pell.
Melbourne priest Rev John Walshe says he spoke to Cardinal Pell after his contentious 1993 telephone conversation with abuse victim David Ridsdale, who alleges he was asked by Cardinal Pell what it would take to keep him quiet.
Fr Walshe has been accused of having no actual memory of key information, after counsel assisting the commission Angus Stewart SC dissected discrepancies between his initial recollection, what he told Cardinal Pell's lawyers and his final evidence.
Mr Stewart said: "Father I put to you that you fabricated these aspects of your statement to save your good friend Cardinal Pell, isn't that right?"
Fr Walshe replied: "I absolutely deny that".
Mr Stewart continued: "You fabricated these parts of your statement to assist your good friend George Pell, isn't that right?"
Fr Walshe said no.
Mr Ridsdale, a victim and nephew of pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale, has accused Cardinal Pell of trying to bribe him by saying: "I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet".
Fr Walshe, who shared a house with the then Melbourne bishop, said Cardinal Pell appeared shocked and crestfallen after the February 1993 call and said something like: "Ridsdale's played up, even played up with his nephew".
Mr Stewart suggested Fr Walshe could not actually recall Cardinal Pell taking the call nor his face, and it was not true that the cardinal spoke to him immediately afterwards.
But Fr Walshe maintained his evidence was correct.
Mr Stewart said: "What you do remember about Cardinal Pell having had a telephone call with David Ridsdale is from what Cardinal Pell told you and not about any memory of an actual observation that remains with you 23 years later?"
Fr Walshe replied: "That's incorrect".
Fr Walshe made a statement to the commission a fortnight ago after a request from Cardinal Pell's legal team, who had to provide copies of their emails exchanges with the reverend after a summons from the commission.
The commission heard Fr Walshe did not recall the exact date of the phone call until he read Mr Ridsdale's statement and asked the solicitor to confirm with Cardinal Pell that he was actually in Mentone then and not on holiday.
He initially thought the call was in the evening rather than the morning and said he was not sure but believed he was in the house with Cardinal Pell at the time.
Mr Stewart suggested Fr Walshe's actual memory of events was vague at best.
Fr Walshe said it was not completely clear but key points were clear.
"I did take time to think and reflect and, sincerely having reflected, what I signed in my statement is what I believe."
Cardinal Pell, the Vatican's financial manager, has repeatedly denied Mr Ridsdale's allegation.
The commission on Wednesday heard the Vatican has now removed convicted pedophile Paul David Ryan, 67, from the priesthood, nine years after he was jailed and the Diocese of Ballarat asked he be dismissed.
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