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Destroyed Evidence Was Gay Porn, Detective Peter Fox Tells Inquiry

By Dan Box
Australian
July 9, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/destroyed-evidence-was-gay-porn-detective-peter-fox-tells-inquiry/story-e6frg6nf-1226676520059

THE detective at the centre of a state government inquiry into church child abuse has been forced to defend his public claim that Catholic priests destroyed evidence during a police investigation.

In a 2012 interview with the ABC's Lateline program, which led to the establishment of the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox claimed priests had destroyed evidence "before we were able to secure it."

Under cross-examination this morning, Mr Fox said this evidence was gay pornography found in a presbytery and reported to him in 2003, when he was investigating a pedophile priest, Father Jim Fletcher.

A different priest, Des Harrigan, subsequently admitted to destroying this material Mr Fox said, although he made no record of the conversation at the time.

Elizabeth McLaughlin, representing Father Harrigan, said her client disputed Mr Fox's account of what took place, which he has since repeated under oath and in a formal report to the NSW Ombudsman's office.

"I put it to you that Father Harrigan made no admission to you about destroying pornography," Ms McLaughlin said.

"He did," Mr Fox replied.

"You didn't give him the opportunity to make a (police) statement in relation to that conversation?" she asked.

"At the time, based on what he said and what I know about those items, I could not see how taking a statement from him could be used for my purposes," Mr Fox said.

Despite having a number of suspicions about this pornography, Mr Fox said he did not subsequently question or investigate Father Harrigan's decision to destroy it.

The inquiry continues.

 

 

 

 

 




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