Hunter Whistleblower Given Extra Work

Sky News
May 6, 2013

http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=869794


A senior police whistleblower's office was searched while he was away on leave, an inquiry into the alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the NSW Hunter Valley will hear.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Julia Lonergan SC, told its first hearing in Newcastle on Monday that evidence relating to Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox would be presented to the inquiry.

Ms Lonergan said evidence would show Insp Fox - whose allegations sparked the commission - pursued investigations that he kept to himself, rather than logging through official police channels.

In 2012 he was removed from any investigative role into sexual abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, and later that year he had become so concerned by the "absence of any obvious investigations" that he appeared on ABC TV's Lateline program to air his claims.

Commissioner Margaret Cunneen SC said in her opening remarks the diocese had a "troubled history" of sexual abuse by clergymen, and many people had been deeply affected by such "abhorrent" crimes.

Over the next fortnight Ms Cunneen will investigate the circumstances in which Insp Fox was asked to stop probing certain matters.

She will hear evidence from senior police including two assistant commissioners and two superintendents, as well as former policeman and now state Nationals MP Troy Grant.

The inquiry will concentrate on two priests - serial sex offender Father Denis McAlinden and convicted paedophile Father James Fletcher, both now dead.

In July, Commissioner Cunneen will examine the extent to which Catholic church officials cooperated with police, including whether any investigation was hindered by the failure to report criminal offences.

Three senior Catholic officials will testify - current Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson, who held senior positions in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese in the 1980s and early 90s, retired bishop of the diocese Michael Malone, and Australian Catholic Bishops Conference secretary Father Brian Lucas.

Its amended terms of reference include provisions to share information with the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse subsequently ordered by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Commissioner Cunneen is due to report to the NSW government by September 30.