Barry Cable found not guilty of historical sex charges
Former North Melbourne AFL player Barry Cable, 82, has been found not guilty of seven historical child sex offence charges in Perth's District Court.
7news.com.auHere’s the latest I can confirm from available sources up to now.
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In April 2026, Australian outlets reported new developments in Barry Cable’s legal cases, including coverage of recent court outcomes in Western Australia. Specifically, a major news outlet indicated Cable was acquitted of seven historic child sex offences in Perth’s District Court in April 2026. This marks a criminal acquittal after prior civil actions related to abuse allegations.[5][6]
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Prior civil proceedings around the same topic show a pattern of ongoing litigation: a 2023 civil case resulted in damages awarded to a survivor, though Cable had filed for bankruptcy, potentially limiting recovery. Earlier reporting in 2023 and 2024 also covered civil actions and the broader public debate about historical abuse allegations surrounding Cable.[4][7][5]
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Coverage across national outlets has consistently noted Cable’s denial of allegations and the long arc of legal actions spanning decades, including civil claims that predated criminal considerations. Some pieces from 2023–2024 framed the situation around bankruptcy and reputational impact even when criminal charges were not pursued or ultimately dismissed in some instances.[3][7][4]
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For broader context beyond Australia, outlets have tracked evolving legal standards for historical abuse cases and how potential outcomes affect public figures in sport, with several summaries emphasizing that Cable denied all allegations while civil and criminal processes unfolded.[3][4]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of the key legal milestones and provide a quick chart or bullet timeline. I can also summarize the latest court outcomes with direct quotes and dates if you want precise citations.