AUSTRALIA
ABC News

A Church counsellor has praised an information centre set-up to allow people to come forward in the lead-up to a probe into sexual abuse by Hunter Valley priests.

The Special Commission of Inquiry was triggered by allegations made by Chief Inspector Peter Fox that police were pressured to close investigations into abuse by two Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese priests.

The information centre opens for the last time on May 5, and aims to give people the opportunity to speak confidentially to members of the Inquiry team.

The Church’s co-ordinator of healing and support Maureen O’Hearn says she has helped around a dozen people through that process.