AUSTRALIA
The Star
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SCARCE police resources hampered investigations of child sex abuse allegations against Catholic priests in the NSW Hunter Region, a special commission of inquiry has been told.
NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Carlene York, who was the northern region commander in 2010, told the inquiry today a shortage of police at that time had reduced her options for such a complex and potentially lengthy investigation.
Only Newcastle and Lake Macquarie police commands had the manpower to possibly do the job and both had numerous officers on sick leave.
‘‘In March, when I took over, the whole region had significant resource problems. All the commands had resource problems,’’ she told Special Commissioner Margaret Cunneen on the seventh day of the inquiry into how police and Catholic church officials handled child sex allegations.
The commission is focusing on allegations involving serial sex offender Father Denis McAlinden and convicted paedophile Father James Fletcher, both now dead.
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