AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Sarah Farnsworth
More than four decades after former Mildura police officer Denis Ryan was stopped from investigating allegations of child sexual abuse by a Catholic priest, Victoria Police has admitted a conspiracy to cover up the crimes went right to the top.
Mr Ryan detailed to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse how his attempt to investigate allegations against Monsignor John Day in the 1970s was thwarted by what he describes as a “Catholic mafia” within the force.
“The common law of the police force was not to charge a priest, short of murder,” Mr Ryan, 83, said.
“The Catholics looked after the Catholics and the Masons looked after the Masons.”
In 1971 while stationed in Mildura, Mr Ryan learnt of numerous allegations against the assistant priest of the parish, Monsignor Day.
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