opinion

Maggie Kirkpatrick charged with child sex offences.

Australian television star Maggie Kirkpatrick has been charged with child sex offences by Victorian police.

In a statement, police confirmed the 74-year-old had been charged with two counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency with a person under 16.

The matter is due to be heard in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 19.

Kirkpatrick, from New South Wales, came to prominence in the 1980s television show Prisoner, in which she played a warden nicknamed The Freak.

Maggie Kirkpatrick (right) alongside actor Louise Siverson in a scene from Prisoner.

She also starred on stage in the musical Wicked and made appearances in Home and Away, All Saints, Water Rats and Blue Heelers.

News Corp reported Kirkpatrick had denied the allegations.

"I need to go to court to have this ridiculous situation quashed," she reportedly said.

"Allegations have been levelled at me, yes. Are they true? Absolutely not."

LIKE Debrief Daily on Facebook. 

Last month, the royal commission into child abuse launched an investigation into the entertainment industry.

Royal commission chief executive Philip Reed said anyone who had experienced child sexual abuse in the Australian entertainment industry, or had information about it, should come forward.

This post originally appeared on the ABC and was republished here with full permission. 

© 2015 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved. Read the ABC Disclaimer here