Former football star Barry Cable has been acquitted of multiple historic child sexual abuse charges. The 82-year-old underwent a judge-only trial concerning allegations that he abused a girl around eight or nine years old at his family residence during the late 1960s. On the day of the verdict, he returned to the Western Australian District Court in Perth, where Judge Michael Bowden announced the decision more than a month after the trial’s conclusion.
Prosecutors had claimed that the abuse took place over a month while the girl was staying with Cable and his wife, Helen. The accuser testified that although Cable initially treated her kindly, his behaviour altered, leading to inappropriate touching. She described how the nature of their interactions changed, stating, “He was loving towards me like an uncle… then things changed,” as she recounted the alleged actions during her testimony in March, which involved sexual acts occurring while Cable’s wife was asleep.
The alleged victim reported the abuse to the police in 2023 after witnessing Cable on television, an event that resurfaced painful memories. Cable faced seven counts concerning the alleged incidents between December 31, 1966, and December 31, 1969, but he denied all charges.
Earlier, a civil trial held in 2023 in the same court concluded that Cable had abused another girl between 1968 and 1973 when she was just 12 years old; she was awarded $818,700 in damages. The civil judge commented on the compelling evidence of Cable’s offences against multiple children, which he has consistently denied. Cable had made several attempts to dismiss these civil proceedings wholly and did not attend the trial.
Following these serious allegations, Cable was stripped of his honours within the Australian Football Hall of Fame after a distinguished career in the 1960s and 1970s with Perth and East Perth in the WAFL, as well as North Melbourne in the VFL. Additionally, his recognition in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame has been rescinded, and the West Australian Football Commission has revoked his membership and ‘Legend’ status.
This case has drawn considerable attention, spotlighting the broader issues of historical abuse within sports and the legal repercussions faced by those accused.