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Fresh probe into any agreements with Catholic Church
By Gabriel Wingate-Pearse
THE relationship between the Catholic Church and NSW Police is being investigated once more, this time by the Police Integrity Commission. Operation Protea, announced yesterday, will look specifically at police involvement in any "agreement, protocol or memorandum of understanding" between police and the Catholic Church concerning the handling of complaints of abuse by Catholic Church personnel or employees. The investigation follows the release of internal police documents to Greens MP David Shoebridge under freedom-of-information legislation in October 2013. As the Newcastle Herald reported at the time, the documents include an unsigned memorandum of understanding allowing the Church to produce edited abuse reports, carry out investigations and decline to release the results to police without court orders. When a senior NSW Police officer advised the Church in August 2003 that the memorandum of understanding appeared to be "in direct conflict" with legal requirements to report crime, police did not investigate whether the Church had failed to report abuse cases. A year later, the Church proposed a fresh memorandum of understanding giving accused clergy and employees effective veto over the release of internal Church investigations to police. Mr Shoebridge said yesterday he welcomed the inquiry. "It's important an independent body like the Police Integrity Commission investigates the matter because very clearly there are questions that need answers," he said. "On the face of it, the documents show a deep conflict of interest on the part of the NSW Police Force." It will also investigate whether there was any police misconduct involved in the participation of a police officer in the Catholic Church Professional Standards Resource Group between 1998 and 2005. The matter was initially referred to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, led by Commissioner Margaret Cunneen, SC. The Herald understands it was ultimately, however, referred to the Police Integrity Commission by the Office of the Premier and Cabinet but the Premier's office was unable to confirm the connection yesterday. Public hearings have been set down for one week, starting on Monday, October 13. The investigation will be led by counsel assisting Kristina Stern, SC, who will call for witnesses after presenting the basis for investigation. A spokesman for Police Minister Stuart Ayres said he was unable to comment. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the commission.
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