Imperial Valley Press

Sex abuse panel seeks witness statement from Prince Charles

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LONDON (AP) — Prince Charles has been asked to give a witness statement to a public inquiry into how abuse allegation­s against a pedophile bishop were handled.

The request for a statement from Charles and his private secretary was made public Wednesday during an Independen­t Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse hearing.

The inquiry is looking into the way abuse allegation­s against ex-bishop Peter Ball were dealt with. He was sentenced to 32 months in prison in 2015 for numerous sexual offenses going back to the 1970s.

Inquiry lawyer Fiona Scolding said Charles’ lawyers have indicated he is willing to assist and have raised a number of issues being reviewed.

“This has led to lengthy and complex discussion­s and we are currently considerin­g the latest points they have raised. We hope to be able to provide an update to core participan­ts on this in the next couple of weeks,” she said.

Charles had exchanged letters with Ball, whose diocese includes Charles’ country estate, Highgrove. The contents of the letters have not been made public.

Charles’ office said in a statement that the prince is “more than willing to provide context on his contact with Mr. Ball, as his former local bishop, if that would help the inquiry.”

The statement said Charles has “made it clear that he was unaware of the extent of Mr. Ball’s behavior.”

The disgrace of the ex-bishop has been a major embarrassm­ent for the Church of England.

 ??  ?? In this May 24 file photo, Britain’s Prince Charles speaks to dignitarie­s as he attends “Platinum – Israel at 70”. AP PhoTo/FrAnk AugsTeIn, Pool, FIle
In this May 24 file photo, Britain’s Prince Charles speaks to dignitarie­s as he attends “Platinum – Israel at 70”. AP PhoTo/FrAnk AugsTeIn, Pool, FIle

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