Australian archbishop sentenced for abuse cover-up

An Australian archbishop has been sentenced to a maximum of twelve months detention, after he was found guilty of covering up a number of sexual abuse claims made against a fellow priest.

However, Magistrate Robert Stone has told the court that 67-year-old Philip Wilson will serve six months home detention, followed by six months of parole, due to his “ailing health and age”, CNN reports.

Wilson, who is currently the archbishop of Adelaide, was found guilty in May of covering up the sexual abuse of several altar boys by paedophile priest James Patrick Fletcher during the 1970s.

“By concealing abuse it is demonstrating you are placing the needs of the perpetrator above the child,” Magistrate Stone said.

The BBC says that survivors of abuse had “mixed feelings about the sentence”, with at least one believing it was “probably letting [Wilson] off a little bit too lightly”.