Royal commission to explore child abuse 'epicentre' in Newcastle

By Thomas Oriti
ABC News
August 30, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-31/royal-commission-to-explore-child-abuse-'epicentre'-in-newcastle/7799774

Abuse in the region was thrown into the spotlight in 2012.

A royal commission has begun a public investigation into allegations of child abuse by the Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has turned its focus to the Catholic diocese in the Hunter after spending recent days investigating cases of abuse in the region's Anglican diocese.

Peter Gogarty, who was abused by Catholic priest James Fletcher, said he had waited years for such an inquiry.

"The Hunter region and people around Newcastle fought so hard for there to be a royal commission," he said.

"It's no news to people that, a bit like Ballarat in Victoria, the Hunter Valley has been some sort of epicentre for this kind of abuse within the Catholic Church in particular.

"So, the fact that the royal commission is coming back here, or is making an appearance in Newcastle specifically, looking into the Catholic Church, I think is really significant for the people of this region."

Abuse in the region was thrown into the spotlight in 2012, when police whistleblower Peter Fox told the ABC there was a cover-up of child sex offences in the area.

"There's something very wrong when you have so many paedophile priests operating in such a small area for such an extended period of time with immunity," Mr Fox told Lateline.

"I submitted report after report suggesting that we needed to do a lot more about investigating this."

Mr Fox's comments sparked a special commission of inquiry, but that investigation cast doubt over claims of a police cover-up.

However, it did find that Church officials knew about sexual abuse allegations against priests for decades, and failed to act.

During the course of the public hearing, the royal commission will examine the case of convicted paedophile priest Vincent Ryan, as well as abuse within the Marist Brothers Catholic order.

Peter Gogarty said the commission's scope showed the alleged history of abuse within Maitland-Newcastle diocese went beyond the actions of just a few.

"I think the fact that they're talking about the Marist Brothers, it will be interesting to see whether there is new information come to light."

However, Bernard Barrett, a representative from victims' advocacy group Broken Rites, said there was more abuse to be exposed within the Catholic Church.

"The same thing can be found in other parts, all over Australia," Dr Barrett said.

"It's just that Newcastle and Ballarat have become notorious thanks to Broken Rites.

"It's the same in Queensland, in Western Australia, in Wagga Wagga and up in Armidale, NSW, Wollongong, it's the same in all those places."