AUSTRALIA
ABC News
The Catholic Church will establish a special review panel to determine if further action will be taken against two senior Hunter region priests, criticised by an inquiry into Church cover-ups of child abuse.
The Special Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese was scathing of the church’s handling of now dead paedophile priests, Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.
Commissioner, Margaret Cunneen described evidence given by senior Hunter priests Monsignor Allan Hart and Father William Burston as unimpressive.
Mons Hart was considered for referral to the DPP for criminal charges, but it was found there was insufficient evidence warranting prosecution for failing to report offending by McAlinden to police.
Fr Burston was not considered for criminal charges.
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