AUSTRALIA
The Age

March 20, 2015

Joanne McCarthy

In January 1996, as Hunter priest Philip Wilson prepared to be made the Bishop of Wollongong, a young police officer who would go on to become NSW Nationals leader, Troy Grant, interviewed senior Hunter Catholic priest Monsignor Patrick Cotter.

Grant wanted to know what Cotter knew of child sex allegations involving fellow priest Vince Ryan.

Individuals need to speak and act. That can only happen … where speaking and acting is not only supported but encouraged.

The late Cotter, who was 82 at the time, denied that anguished parents of boys as young as 5, 6 and 7 had told him in the early 1970s about serious allegations against Ryan. A 25-page transcript of the interview shows Cotter repeatedly declined to answer questions on legal advice. He told the then Senior Constable Grant, “I don’t wish to answer that”.