Former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson’s quashed conviction won’t be appealed by NSW DPP

Former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson’s quashed conviction of concealing child-sex abuse will not be appealed by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions. The news has been welcomed by Adelaide’s Catholic Archdiocese.

• Appeal: Philip Wilson’s conviction quashed

Former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson’s quashed conviction of concealing child-sex abuse will not be appealed by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions.

In a statement to The Advertiser yesterday, a spokeswoman said the DPP’s office had no right of appeal against the NSW District Court’s December 7 judgment.

“An appeal can only be made on errors of law. After careful consideration, it was decided that there were no reasonable prospects of success of appeal on errors of law,” the NSW DPP spokeswoman said.

In May, Bishop Wilson was found guilty by Magistrate Robert Stone of covering up child-sex abuse.

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions won’t appeal former Adelaide archbishop Philip Wilson’s quashed conviction.

Mr Stone found that, between 2004 and 2006, Wilson did not tell NSW Police what he knew about the sexual abuse of children by his former flatmate, the now deceased paedophile priest James Fletcher, in the 1970s.

Bishop Wilson was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with a six-month non-parole period, which he was ordered to spend on home detention with relatives in NSW.

However, Bishop Wilson lodged an appeal against his conviction, which was then overturned by the NSW District Court.

Judge Roy Ellis found “no direct evidence” that Bishop Wilson had concealed Fletcher’s crimes.

He ruled prosecutors had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that victim, Peter Aidan Creigh, 57, had revealed Fletcher’s abuse five years earlier.

The Catholic Church has yet to confirm if Bishop Wilson will be reinstated to his former position.

The Advertiser understands he is still residing with relatives in NSW.

The news has delighted Adelaide’s Catholic Archdiocese, with its apostolic administrator Bishop Greg O’Kelly issuing a statement saying: “I am delighted at the news of the positive completion of the legal processes. We are very satisfied with the outcome and await the appointment of a new Archbishop of Adelaide.

“Emeritus Archbishop Wilson, who resigned on July 30, will now have the opportunity to recuperate and gain strength after this ordeal.”