AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By IAN KIRKWOOD July 15, 2013
BISHOP Michael Malone has disputed suggestions that he altered his personal diary to back up an assertion that he warned the principal of a Catholic school at Branxton about allegations of child sexual abuse against eventually convicted paedophile Jim Fletcher.
In a tense passage of cross-examination before lunch on Monday, Bishop Malone was questioned by counsel for Will Callinan, a principal in the Catholic school system.
Bishop Malone’s evidence is that at the time he gave Fletcher a second parish – against the advice of police officer Peter Fox, who wanted Fletcher stood down – he warned Mr Callinan about a need to keep Fletcher away from the children at his school.
Mr Callinan has not given evidence yet but the commission has heard more than once that he disputes the bishop’s account of events.
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