Whistleblower Accused of Lying to Hunter Valley Child Abuse Inquiry

By Dan Cox
ABC News
July 9, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-09/whistleblower-accused-of-lying-to-hunter-valley-child-abuse-inq/4809014?section=nsw

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox has given evidence for a 10th day.

A New South Wales inquiry into child sexual abuse has heard a Catholic Church worker lost his job because he supported his son, who had been the victim of a Hunter Valley paedophile priest.

It is the fifth week of the Special Commission's public hearings in Newcastle, with senior policeman Peter Fox giving evidence for a 10th day.

The second stage of the inquiry is investigating his claims that senior Catholic clergy tried to cover up abuse by two priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.

Detective Chief Inspector Fox today told the inquiry he has heard several stories of reprisal from the Church, after victims went to police accusing priests of sexual abuse.

He said the father of one of Fletcher's victims was treated unfairly by the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, particularly by the Bishop at the time, Michael Malone.

Peter Fox said the man was working for the Church and was concerned his employment would be terminated because he was supporting his son.

The commission heard the father ultimately lost his job.

The inquiry has previously heard a victim went to a Nelson Bay presbytery drunk and angry, accusing of priests of doing "filthy things to little boys".

Detective Chief Inspector Fox said the parish priest, Father Robert Searle, told him about the incident, but Father Searle did not include the comments in his official statement to police.

Representing the diocese, lawyer Lachlan Gyles today told the commission that was because the comments were "nonsense".

Det Chief Insp Fox said that was not true.

Mr Gyles' application to suppress this morning's evidence was rejected by the commissioner.

The commission previously heard the former bishop, Michael Malone, forewarned Fletcher about abuse allegations against him, giving him time to "destroy potential evidence" such as homosexual pornography.

Counsel assisting the commission, Julia Lonergan, said today that Det Chief Insp Fox had a "preconceived idea" that pornographic material found in the presbytery belonged to Fletcher.

The commission heard another priest, Father Des Harrigan, told Det Chief Insp Fox he owned the magazines and videos but he did not believe him.

Ms Lonergan said the senior policeman did not question the priest with "an open mind", but with "prejudice".