Shine the Light: Commission Hearing in Newcastle
By Sam Rigney
AUSTRALIA’S first commission of inquiry into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church will begin today in Newcastle Supreme Court. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox, who helped bring about the NSW public inquiry, is scheduled to give evidence during the first two days. A long list of senior NSW police will follow Chief Inspector Fox into the witness box during the first two weeks of the inquiry, which precedes and runs separately from the broader federal royal commission into sex abuse. Commissioner Margaret Cunneen SC will rule on hearing in-camera testimony from some witnesses to avoid prejudicing potential future criminal proceedings. The NSW commission of inquiry will consider police investigations of the late Hunter paedophile priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher over the next two weeks. It will later examine Church handling of allegations involving the priests, from June 24 to July 12. NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell established the commission of inquiry after Chief Inspector Fox’s open letter to the Premier was published in the Newcastle Herald in November last year, and after he appeared on the ABC’s Lateline. See your ad here Chief Inspector Fox alleged the Church failed to report child sex allegations to police, failed to co-operate with police and alerted alleged offenders. He also alleged police in 2010 ordered him to stop investigating Church handling of allegations involving Mr McAlinden. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a federal royal commission into child sexual abuse only days after Mr O’Farrell’s decision.
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