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Former Catholic Bishop Due to Front Nsw Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse in the Hunter Valley

By Dan Cox
ABC News
July 9, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-10/former-catholic-bishop-due-to-front-inquiry/4810278?section=nsw

The former Catholic bishop accused of tipping off a paedophile priest about a police investigation will today front a New South Wales inquiry into clergy sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley.

Documents tendered at the commission last week show senior Catholic church officials, including the former Maitland-Newcastle bishop Michael Malone, knew about Father James Fletcher and Father Denis McAlinden's abuse.

Late yesterday, whistleblower detective Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox finished giving evidence at the special commission.

DCI Fox claimed Bishop Malone intentionally hindered his investigation into Fletcher by telling the priest about the allegations, which gave him time to "destroy evidence".

Michael Malone's barrister Simon Harben has previously told the inquiry the former bishop was legitimately concerned for the priest's poor health and Peter Fox had "no basis" for the accusation.

Peter Fox has told the inquiry Bishop Malone "defied his suggestion" to have Fletcher stood down while the abuse investigation was underway, allowing him to continue running "private reading classes" with school students.

The public hearings will start this morning with evidence from former policeman Donald Brown, Detective Senior Constable Jacqueline Flipo and then former bishop Malone.

He will be the first church witness to come under examination.

 

 

 

 

 




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