- Robert Doyle quit over the allegations made against him and denies the claims
- But report published by City of Melbourne on Tuesday has made four findings
- Allegations relate to him drinking ‘substantial amounts of red wine’, report says
Former Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle groped female councillors and tried to kiss one after drinking ‘substantial amounts of red wine’, an independent investigation has found.
A report published on Tuesday by the City of Melbourne Council backed up allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Doyle towards two town hall colleagues.
He has resigned from office while investigations into his alleged conduct continue but has denied all the allegations against him.
The accusations levelled against Mr Doyle came out about his supposed actions towards councillors Cathy Oke and Tessa Sullivan.
But the report will not be published inits 100-page entirety because of privacy reasons, the council said.
A damning report into former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle (pictured), was published on Tuesday
The report found Mr Doyle attempted to kiss councillor Cathy Oke in his office after a meeting
Ms Sullivan reportedly had her breast groped by Mr Doyle in his chaffeur driven car after a meeting, the report found
Four findings were made against Mr Doyle: that he grabbed Ms Sullivan’s breast in his chauffeur-driven mayoral car after a meeting on May 2; that he repeatedly stroked Ms Oke’s thigh at a council dinner in 2014; he tried to kiss Ms Oke in his office after a meeting in late 2016 or early 2017; and in all cases he acted after drinking red wine.
Mr Doyle, who resigned as lord mayor after the allegations were levelled, has strenuously denied all claims.
More to follow.
A finding made in the report was that Mr Doyle repeatedly stroked Ms Oke’s thigh at a council dinner
Four findings were in the report but Mr Doyle has denied all the allegations against him
Mr Doyle stood down from office while the investigation into alleged sexual harassment took place