Crucial Documents Were in George Pell's Office

By Dan Cox
7 News
May 15, 2013

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/17155895/crucial-documents-were-in-george-pells-office/


The former head of a police strike force has told a child sexual abuse inquiry he was made aware of crucial church documents in the office of Sydney's Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell.

The Special Commission in Newcastle is investigating Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox's claims the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese and NSW Police covered up allegations of child sexual abuse by two priests.

Brad Tayler, a former Newcastle crime manager, is giving evidence at the public hearings.

The court has heard in a meeting in 2010 Mr Tayler was told by Andrew Morrison SC from the Australian Lawyers Alliance that there were important documents in Cardinal George Pell's office.

Under cross examination Mr Tayler was asked what attempts were made to obtain the church documents from the Archbishop of Sydney.

He said processes were underway, but he could not get a search warrant without a witness statement.

The court has heard that witness, who was a victim of child sexual abuse by a Hunter Valley Catholic Priest, had made a complaint about how she was treated by an investigator.

Mr Tayler has told the court he was not trying to intimidate the victim when he called her in regards to the complaint.

Under cross examination Mr Tayler said without the evidence the investigation was "dead in the water".

Peter Fox's barrister Mark Cohen told the court the victim was "distressed" and asked Mr Tayler what he did to help her.

Mr Tayler rejected claims there was a conflict of interest in him investigating the victim's complaint as he was the Strike Force Lantle manager.

Mr Tayler said "it is rubbish" that he was trying to "avoid an embarrassing situation" for police.

He rejected claims he was "reluctant to take the case on", and denied he considered it a political "hot potato" despite it involving senior clergy members.

He said he wanted the sex crime squad to investigate because it fell under their charter.

The inquiry continues tomorrow.