AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
AAP
A special inquiry has heard factions in the NSW police force wanted to prevent a full investigation of alleged sex abuse by priests in the Hunter region, but another witness denied speaking of a “Catholic mafia” in the force.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox told Special Commissioner Margaret Cunneen he formed the belief that parts of the NSW force didn’t want the abuse allegations probed in his investigations, which involved possibly hundreds of victims, over several years to December 2010.
This concern led him to lie about his investigations to colleagues and breach a direction not to speak to journalists, he told the special commission of inquiry in Newcastle on Wednesday.
It also made him reluctant to stop investigating and hand over his files, he said.
Inspector Fox said he had also unearthed links between alleged abuse by priests in the Hunter Valley and priests in other parts of the state.
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