Detective Failed to Follow up on Pedophile Priest Denis McAlinden

By Dan Box
The Australian
July 10, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/detective-failed-to-follow-up-on-pedophile-priest-denis-mcalinden/story-e6frg6nf-1226677122321

A DETECTIVE investigating a pedophile failed to identify existing police records that suggested the Catholic priest had a number of other victims and did not follow up a postal address in the man's name, an inquiry has heard.

Despite learning the priest, Denis McAlinden, returned to Australia from the UK in 2002, the detective did not subsequently attempt to locate him using Centrelink or ATO records, or follow up a PO Box address registered in his name.

Three years later, the NSW special commission of inquiry has heard, a separate police investigation into McAlinden used Centrelink records to find him living in Western Australia, but detectives could not extradite the priest due to his health and he died shortly after.

Giving evidence to the inquiry this morning, Detective Senior Constable Jacqueline Flipo said she received a report in 2002 that McAlinden had sexually abused a young girl.

Despite searching the police computer records, Ms Flipo said she did not pursue a reference to a previous investigation, in 1999, in which a warrant had been issued for the priest's arrest.

As a result, the inquiry heard, she was unaware that McAlinden was also alleged to have sexually abused another young girl of a similar age.

"The system appears to have worked in that it directed you to that entry from 1999?" Commissioner Margaret Cunneen, SC, asked.

"Yes," Ms Flipo replied.

The detective was also unaware that McAlinden had previously faced court in Western Australia for child sex abuse, although he was not convicted, she said.

She also did not know about an existing arrangement between the police force and Catholic church, in which information about allegedly offending priests was shared with police.

An email from the Catholic Professional Standards Office, previously tendered in evidence to the inquiry, states that they provided police with information on two further McAlinden victims in 1999.

Ms Flipo said she "did try to locate (McAlinden) through WA Police through normal channels", but did not search Centrelink, ATO or Telstra records after learning he had returned to Australia.

Her investigation was ultimately referred to a separate police local area command, the inquiry heard, although the relevant files remained in storage in the police station where Ms Flipo was based.