AUSTRALIA
Cowra Community News
NEW South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says the senior officers caught up in allegations of cover-up of child sexual abuse in the Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle can now hold their heads up high.
A four-volume Special Commission of Inquiry report, released on Friday, uncovered no evidence to show senior police officers tried to block the child abuse investigations.
The inquiry found Detective Inspector Peter Fox – who alleged there had been a cover-up – was not a credible witness and also said it was appropriate for police to instruct him to stop his own investigations.
The inquiry looked at how the church handled complaints about former priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher, both now dead.
Three volumes have been released, while the fourth is confidential.
Commissioner Scipione today (Monday, June 2) acknowledged the efforts of Commissioner Margaret Cunneen and her team in conducting the inquiry.
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