No Bad Feelings for Whistleblower: Nsw Cop

By Paul Maquire
Wa Today
June 25, 2013

http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-national/no-bad-feelings-for-whistleblower-nsw-cop-20130625-2ov29.html

A NSW crime manager has told an inquiry he holds no animosity towards the whistleblower who alleges police and clergy covered up abuse allegations involving Catholic priests.

Newcastle crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Humphrey says he believes Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox is a good detective.

"Despite what anyone may think, I have no animosity to (Detective Chief Inspector) Peter Fox," he told the inquiry into the handling of allegations of child sexual abuse by Hunter Valley Catholic priests on Tuesday.

"He's a good detective, a very senior police officer and I have no problem with his work at all."

Det Insp Fox secretly provided information to several journalists since 2010 for numerous newspaper, radio and televisions reports about child sexual abuse by priests.

His assertion of a Maitland/Newcastle diocese cover up, aided by a "Catholic mafia" within police ranks, was instrumental in sparking the commission which is chiefly looking at allegations surrounding two priests, Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher who are now dead.

Det Insp Humphrey signed police documents that aimed to have Fr McAlinden extradited from Western Australia in 2005 and picked Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Little in 2011 to head a strike force looking into allegations that abuse crimes had been concealed.

He said he always believed that Det Insp Fox should be interviewed and provide material to the strike force as he had something to offer.

Det Insp Humphrey will continue his evidence when the commission resumes tomorrow.

Earlier on Tuesday, Newcastle Herald journalist Joanne McCarthy said she began a secret exchange of information with Det Insp Fox in 2010 because she believed he was ready to investigate concealment allegations.

Under cross examination by barrister Wayne Roser on behalf of several other senior police officers, Ms McCarthy denied her arrangement with Det Insp Fox had anything to do with any difficulties he may have been encountering within the force.

She also denied she was acting to assist with his career.

When explaining a series of emails during 2010 and 2011 between herself and Det Insp Fox, Ms McCarthy said: "He was ready to investigate concealment.

"Possibly be was feeling isolated and alone.

"I think I was a bit of a sounding board, I guess he was feeling pretty much on the outer ... possibly we were both feeling the same way."