Suspicious Fox Lied to Police to Protect Child Sex Abuse Inquiry

By Elle Watson
Maitland Mercury
May 7, 2013

http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/1483726/suspicious-fox-lied-to-police-to-protect-child-sex-abuse-inquiry/?cs=171

SUSPICIOUS: Inspector Peter Fox lied to senior police to protect his investigaton.

A senior policeman lied and deliberately withheld documents relating to child sex abuse by Maitland and Newcastle priests because of suspicions about why he was summonsed to a meeting with senior police.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox's admission came as he resumed his evidence this morning at the Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Counsel assisting Julia Lonergan SC asked Inspector Fox why he "lied" to Newcastle Supreme Court yesterday, after claiming he forgot to bring the documents to the meeting at Waratah Police Station in December 2010.

"I may have misheard and I apologise for that but I certainly didn't lie," Inspector Fox said.

"So you lied to police at the meeting?" Ms Lonergan asked Inspector Fox.

"Absolutely yes," he replied.

Inspector Fox said he intentionally left the documents which he had collected during his own investigations into sexual abuse.

He said he was concerned he would be removed from further investigations.

The inquiry continues.