AUSTRALIA
Sky News
Police have compiled about 3000 pages of evidence for claims that the Catholic Church covered up allegations of child sex abuse by two NSW Hunter Valley priests, an inquiry has been told.
But a decision on whether charges should be laid against senior priests or church officials is not expected until later this year at the earliest.
The evidence was gathered in a police investigation codenamed Strike Force Lantle, set up in late 2010 to look at complaints made by four alleged victims about Father Denis McAlinden and Father James Fletcher between 1985 and 1999.
Ian Lloyd QC was engaged by government officials earlier this year to review the Lantle investigation for the special commission of inquiry that began in Newcastle 10 days ago.
The inquiry, sparked by police whistleblower Detective Peter Fox, is looking at the way police and the church have handled child sex allegations, particularly those involving McAlinden and Fletcher, who are both dead.
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