AUSTRALIA
ABC News
The former Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Michael Malone, has admitted it would have been better if he had reported a paedophile priest directly to the police.
Transcript
TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The former Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle has admitted it would have been better if he’d reported a paedophile priest directly to the police.
He was referring to Father Denis McAlinden.
The special commission of inquiry said the Church had evidence of his abuses over four decades.
Bishop Michael Malone conceded his early handling of abuse had been bumbling and said he had a lot of regrets. And Bishop Malone today contradicted evidence he gave yesterday when he said he’d never read or acquainted himself with the material in the priest’s personal file.
Suzie Smith reports from Maitland-Newcastle. The producer is Stephen Crittenden.
SUZIE SMITH, REPORTER: It was day two of intensive cross-examination of the former bishop of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, a role he held for 16 years until 2011.
Yesterday Michael Malone said that when he first became bishop, he only knew about two victims of Denis McAlinden, “AL” and “AK”.
He also said that as the bishop of a busy diocese, he didn’t have the luxury to read through McAlinden’s extensive file.
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