2001 ‘relationship’ with former priest Barry Whelan
Archbishop Denis Hart in court to restrain alleged victim

James Madden
AAP

MELBOURNE'S Catholic archbishop has won an intervention order against a female stalker who threatened to join his family for Christmas lunch.
  Archbishop Denis Hart won a 13-month intervention order against Anne Furness after describing to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court the distress she had caused him and his staff in a series of encounters over the past six months.
  "Here was someone who was entering into my life in an inappropriate way and I was

being denied the freedom ordinary people are entitled to," the archbishop said.
  Ms Furness, 45, of South Yarra, has a continuing dispute with the church over allegations of bullying and sexual abuse following a relationship with a former priest, Barry Whelan, in 2001.
  The court was told yesterday [Dec. 27] that on the night of December 4, Ms Furness camped outside Archbishop Hart's home. About 5.30am, she threw stones through a second-floor window.
  Ms Furness told the court; "I don't want to go and hassle Denis Hart. I want this to be resolved. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."