I Was Abused by Priest, Cop Tells Child Sex Abuse Inquiry

By Dan Cox
7 News
June 28, 2013

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/17785075/i-was-abused-by-priest-cop-tells-child-sex-abuse-inquiry/

A senior policeman has told a New South Wales inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church he was abused by a priest.

Former Central Hunter Local Area Commander Superintendent John Gralton told the special commission of inquiry at Newcastle Supreme Court he was assaulted in front of 40 other students by a priest at his Catholic school.

He said he gave a statement to an investigator, as well as the details of five or six other students who were indecently assaulted at school.

Superintendent Gralton told the inquiry any suggestion there were efforts to stop investigations was "abhorrent", "offensive at the highest level" and "could not be further from the truth".

The commission is looking into claims by Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox that Newcastle police tried to cover up allegations of child sexual abuse by Father James Fletcher and Father Denis McAlinden of the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese.

One of the Hunter Valley's top female police officers, Detective Sergeant Kristi Faber, also gave evidence today.

She was involved in several high-profile cases, including an investigation into child sexual abuse and drug supply by disgraced former Swansea MP Milton Orkopoulos.

Detective Sergeant Faber is now attached to Strike Force Georgiana, one of two investigations into child sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley.

She told the court 11 offenders had been charged with 440 offences over the last five years, including six priests and three brothers.

Detective Sergeant Faber said Detective Chief Inspector Fox told her she had been "so thorough in her investigation" of the church that she "would not be liked" and her "life was in danger from the Catholic Mafia".

She says she told Detective Chief Inspector Fox she was not scared of priests.

In giving evidence today, she also said she had "never had any resistance whatsoever" from senior police regarding her investigations.

Detective Sergeant Faber said police considered child sexual abuse and its concealment "akin to murder".

The first stage of the commission, which examined Detective Chief Inspector Fox's claims, wrapped up today after three weeks of public hearings.

The second stage, to open next week, will look at how the church handled the complaints and allegations that church officials did not co-operate with police.

Commissioner Margaret Cunneen SCA is expected to release her findings by the end of September.