Catholic Nun 'Tipped off Priest' under Investigation for Pedophile Crimes

By Dan Box
The Australian
May 8, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/catholic-nun-tipped-off-priest-under-investigation-for-pedophile-crimes/story-e6frg6nf-1226637613206

A CATHOLIC priest being investigated for pedophile crimes was tipped off by a nun before his arrest, the former investigating policeman and current NSW MP Troy Grant says.

Mr Grant, the Nationals MP for Dubbo in the state's west, said he is prepared to give evidence of this as well as alleged cover-ups by senior clergy to the NSW special commission of inquiry into child abuse next month.

Speaking outside the hearing, after giving evidence this morning, Mr Grant said that church officials had colluded to hide serious sex offences.

"There were individuals who acted completely inappropriately, commensurate with their pastoral care. I believe they acted illegally," he said.

During the 1990s and before he entered parliament, Mr Grant led a successful prosecution of pedophile priest Vince Ryan in the Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. During this investigation, he said he was visited by a nun to discuss the inquiry. The nun subsequently tipped Father Ryan off the night before his arrest, Mr Grant said.

Speaking outside the inquiry, Mr Grant said he had evidence of cover-ups by senior clergy within the diocese dating back as far as 1974. He is expected to be recalled to give further evidence to the inquiry next month.

"Their level of culpability has never been tested in the court system, they've never been questioned or put before their peers to answer for what they did," he said.

"What they did in 1974, 1975, 1981 and then 1995 meant that a lot of (church abuse) victims need not have been victims - that's where the tragedy is."