Church Overlooked Paedophile Priest to Avoid Scandal: Inquiry Told

By Michelle Harris
Newcastle Herald
September 24, 2013

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1797547/church-overlooked-paedophile-priest-to-avoid-scandal-inquiry-told/?cs=303

THE Maitland-Newcastle Diocese "simply overlooked" 25 years of paedophile priest Denis McAlinden's offending "in the interest of avoiding some scandal", the Special Commission of Inquiry has been told.

Barrister for Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox, Mark Cohen, told the inquiry on Tuesday morning McAlinden had been moved around almost constantly from diocese to diocese, and to PNG and New Zealand, from 1969 to the 1990s to ensure he was "kept out of the way".

By December 1971 it was observed McAlinden had left PNG because he was "very rough with the native people".

By May 1976, McAlinden had been "run out of town again"from Forster-Tuncurry "by angry parents", Mr Cohen said.

And by 1987 "there were so many complaints swirling" about McAlinden that there must have been an understanding within the diocese of what was going on.

"Such matters of such gravity must have got back to the Diocese even if it hasn't been recorded in a formal way," Mr Cohen said.

But the process of trying to force McAlinden out of the ministry didn't start until 1993, when two victims lodged complaints.

Mr Cohen told Commissioner Margaret Cunneen SC she was entitled to conclude the diocese at the very least "engaged in benign neglect", but that really "it was wilful blindness" to McAlinden's abusing.

Barrister for Bishop Michael Malone, Simon Harben SC, urged Ms Cunneen not to make any adverse findings against his client.

Bishop Malone had taken over from Bishop Leo Clarke, and continued the "proper process" already under way of trying to force McAlinden out, in accordance with the wishes of the two victims, Mr Harben said.

But Bishop Malone had never denied responsibility for his role in the church's response to McAlinden, and in hindsight may have acted differently, he said.

The inquiry is continuing.