Margaret Cunneen SC has been appointed as Special Commissioner to inquire into and report on matters relating to the Police investigation of certain child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
The Commissioner will be assisted by Julia Lonergan SC, David Kell and Warwick Hunt of Counsel and the Crown Solicitor.
View the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry [PDF, 133kb]
Court dates
Public hearings will be held in the Newcastle Supreme Court, Court Room No.1, Church Street, Newcastle from 6 May to 17 May and from 24 June to 12 July 2013.
The Schedule of Witnesses [PDF, 147KB] details the witnesses proposed to be called to give evidence at public hearings starting at 10am on Monday, 6 May 2013. Please note that this schedule may be subject to change and will accordingly be updated periodically.
Practice Note no.1 [PDF, 138kb] explains the authorisation process for individuals or organisations who wish to appear at public hearings before the Commission.
Practice note no.2 [PDF, 149kb] details the processes and procedures relating to the conduct of the public hearings.
What to expect at Special Commission of Inquiry Hearings [PDF, 3566kb] provides information for victims who may wish to make a submission or appear at a private or public hearing.
Inquiry Information Centre
To provide relevant persons, including victims of Father James Fletcher and Father Denis McAlinden, with the opportunity to speak confidentially with members of the team assisting the Commissioner, an information centre will operate from 10am-4pm on 4 and 5 March, 3, 4 and 5 April and 5 May 2013 at:
Justice Access Centre
Floor 1, Suite 2
84 Nelson Street
Wallsend
Alternative times can be made by arrangement. For more information, contact the Inquiry on (02) 9224 5282.
Submission dates
Written submissions to the Special Commission of Inquiry were due by 1 March 2013. The Commissioner will consider written requests to provide a late submission to the Inquiry. The written request should provide the reason(s) for the delay in providing the Submission prior to sending it.
Such requests to the Commissioner can be made by email to the following address: sisa@agd.nsw.gov.au.
Submissions must comply with the Directions for Written Submissions, which can be obtained by contacting Ms Emma Sullivan, Special Counsel of the Crown Solicitor’s Office, at email address sisa@agd.nsw.gov.au or on our submissions page.
Report date
The Commissioner is now due to provide a report on, or before, 30 September 2013.
Contacting the Inquiry
Individuals or organisations who believe they are substantially and directly interested in any subject matter of the Inquiry are invited to contact Ms Sullivan, in writing, at the address below in order to inform the Inquiry of their interest, and the extent of assistance that they can provide to the Inquiry.
Any person who has information and material that is relevant to the Inquiry is invited to provide it directly to Ms Sullivan at the address specified below.
Any person wishing to contact the Inquiry may do so at the address below.
Special Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to the Police investigation of certain child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
GPO Box 25
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: (02) 9224 5282
E-mail: sisa@agd.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au