No charges laid against Robert Doyle after sexual harassment allegations
The sex crime investigationinto former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has been closed and no charges will be laid against him with police revealing the two-year investigation is no longer active. Here’s the latest.
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The sex crime investigation into former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has been closed and no charges will be laid against him.
Victoria Police confirmed the two-year investigation into Mr Doyle was no longer active.
The Herald Sun understands there was insufficient evidence to bring a case against him.
“Victoria Police can confirm that the investigation into allegations involving a 66-year-old South Melbourne man have now been completed and no charges will be laid,” said a police spokeswoman told the Herald Sun.
“This has been a thorough and complex two-year investigation by detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad. Victoria Police made the decision after independent advice was also sought by police during the course of the investigation.”
However investigators have not ruled out the possibility of reopening the case if new information or complainants come forward.
“Investigators will continue to support the complainants. If further information is provided to police in relation to these or any other matters then appropriate investigation will take place,” the spokeswoman said.
“Victoria Police is committed to investigating matters of sexual assault and bringing those responsible to justice. We encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual assault to contact police.”
Mr Doyle, who served three terms as the City of Melbourne mayor, resigned in 2018 in the wake of the damning sexual harassment allegations by fellow councillor Tessa Sullivan.
Mr Doyle has never responded to the accusations against him, including by other women.
He has claimed he was too sick to address the allegations and has kept a low profile.
Lawyer Chris Stakis at Wisewould Mahoney released a statement on behalf of Ms Sullivan.
“My client was not involved in the police investigation however she feels vindicated by the four adverse findings of sexual harassment and gross misconduct by the independent report undertaken by the City of Melbourne,” the statement read.
The development will be a huge blow to the women who filed complaints against him.
Sexual harassment cases are historically difficult to prosecute.
The bombshell closure of the case comes the same week High Court Justice Dyson Heydon was exposed as having sexually harassed six young female associates.
The Herald Sun has been told the investigation was put to the Office of Public Prosecutions and that prosecutors ruled it would be hard to prove a pattern of behaviour.
In 2018 a council inquiry made four adverse findings into Doyle’s conduct for allegedly groping Ms Sullivan, who first blew the scandal open, and Cathy Oke.
City of Melbourne Chief executive Justin Hanney said the report would be made public once Victoria Police concluded its investigation.
“If it gets put into the public domain it may have implications for any trial,’’ he said in April last year.
Among his accusers is Kharla Williams, who alleged she was touched inappropriately by Mr Doyle while at a Melbourne Health black-tie dinner with her husband in 2016.
The City of Melbourne has vowed to release to Ms Williams the findings of a sealed inquiry into Mr Doyle’s harassment.
The council is yet to decide if the investigation, by Ian Freckelton QC, will be made public.
City of Melbourne CEO Justin Hanney said: “I acknowledge the courage Ms Williams has shown in taking this matter to Victoria Police.”
“In 2019 I made an assurance that the findings of the Freckelton report would be made available to Ms Williams once the police investigation was completed.
“The appropriate processes will now be put in place to make that happen.”
Mr Doyle was also accused of assaulting a student at Geelong College the 1970s, while he was a teacher.
In her initial statement to police, the woman said the alleged assault occurred as Mr Doyle drove her — then aged 15 — in his distinctive red Alfa Romeo coupe from Belmont to Newport for school sports.
“He touched my leg several times and tried to make out that his hand had slipped off the gear stick onto my leg,” she claimed.
“Robert Doyle was a teacher at the school when he assaulted me.”
She vowed to make a complaint to police last year.
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