AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Dan Cox
The head of the NSW Sex Crimes Squad has conceded alleged child sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley’s Catholic Church was not investigated with much urgency.
On day five of the special commission of inquiry’s public hearings at Newcastle Supreme Court, the commander of the NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec was giving evidence.
The probe is examining claims by abuse whistleblower Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox he was directed by superiors to stop investigating the allegations of abuse by two priests in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.
Detective Fox’s barrister, Mark Cohen, suggested police emails showed there was not much urgency among Strike Force Lantle investigators to examine the claims.
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