O’Farrell orders inquiry into Catholic church sex abuse investigations

AUSTRALIA
The Australian

Imre Salusinszky, NSW political reporter
From:The Australian
November 09, 2012

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced a special commission of inquiry into the way police handled allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the Hunter Valley, and whether the church interfered in police investigations.

The inquiry follows explosive allegations by NSW Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox that he was taken off the case after learning senior clergy had covered up abuse and establishing a close rapport with victims.

The special commission will be headed by barrister Margaret Cunneen, who as a crown prosecutor was responsible for a number of high-profile child sexual abuse cases.

There have been about 400 victims of child sexual abuse in the Newcastle area and 11 priests have been convicted since 1995.

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