AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Dan Cox
The public gallery was moved to tears today after two victim impact statements were read to the NSW inquiry into clergy sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley.
The public hearings have wrapped up after eight weeks and more than 40 witnesses.
The inquiry is investigating claims the Catholic Church covered up abuse by paedophile priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.
Maureen O’Hearn, the Maitland-Newcastle diocese coordinator for healing and support, has given evidence saying she has dealt with around 28 victims of McAlinden since she started in the job in 2007.
She said the earliest reported abuse was in 1949.
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