Maggie Kirkpatrick, a veteran Australian actress known for her role on the series "Prisoner," was charged with child abuse, reported the Associated Press. The star appeared in court Wednesday after being accused of molesting a 13-year-old psychiatric hospital patient in her home more than 30 years ago.
"I need to go to court to have this ridiculous situation quashed," Kirkpatrick, 74, told the Herald Sun. "Allegations have been levelled at me, yes. Are they true? Absolutely not."
The alleged victim, who remains unnamed, claimed Kirkpatrick invited her to her home in Melbourne in 1984, according to the BBC. A meeting was arranged for the girl, who was a fan of Kirkpatrick's work on "Prisoner," through a TV agent who was also a patient at the psychiatric hospital.
"They had a meal and ended up in Kirkpatrick's bedroom," said the girl in a police statement obtained by the AP.
The alleged victim came forward in 2013 with her allegations, and said she didn't report the abuse earlier because she thought people would call her "crazy," reported the BBC.
Kirkpatrick was charged with two counts of indecently assaulting the victim and one count of gross indecency with a person under 16 in Melbourne Magistrates Court Wednesday. She is due back in court as the case continues Thursday.
The actress rose to fame as Joan "The Freak" Ferguson in the hit Australian series "Prisoner" (known as "Prisoner: Cell Block H" or "Caged Women" overseas), which ran from 1979 to 1986. Her character was known to molest inmates during body searches. Kirkpatrick's most recent role was Madame Morrible in an Australian production of "Wicked."
