GERALDTON (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
ABC
By Laura Meachim
The horrific crimes of paedophile priest, Denis McAlinden, are being investigated in regional Western Australia by lawyers committed to revealing the full extent of his abuse of young children.
McAlinden died in 2005 before he could be charged over five decades of sexual abuse that spanned Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Now, Canberra-based law firm, Ken Cush and Associates, is turning its attention to the Diocese of Geraldton, where McAlinden was sent in the 1980s.
It wants to hear from witnesses and victims from the Diocese of Geraldton, Bunbury and the parish of Wickham and Kojonup.
Senior Associate Nick Kitchin said the firm was currently working on several cases, both in Australia and overseas, involving the former priest.
“We are retracing his steps to gather information on his past actions,” he said.
“As we undertake this work, we are encountering more people who were abused by him.”
While McAlinden’s name is well-known, Mr Kitchin said the extent of the priest’s abuse was not.
“He is known to be one of the worst well-known paedophile priests,” he said.
“The number of victims could be in the tens of people, it could be even more.
“We do not know, despite the various inquiries and the commission that has taken place. People are still coming forward for their own reasons and in their own time.
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