December 18, 2004

Police chief and the notorious pedophile

AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald

By John Kidman
December 19, 2004
The Sun-Herald

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney was once involved in a failed investigation into an Anglican priest who later became one of the state's most notorious pedophiles.

The revelation comes just a week after calls by NSW's top officer for a national summit on the growing menace of child abuse.

The case, which revolved around a complaint of indecent assault of an eight-year-old girl, occurred more than 20 years ago when Mr Moroney was a sergeant at West Wyalong.

Documents obtained by The Sun-Herald indicate police were reluctant to proceed because of the delicacy of placing such a young witness before a court without corroborative evidence.

The law finally caught up with the accused, Robert Ellmore, who is serving an 11-year jail term. His conviction in February 2002 caused a furore when it was learnt senior Anglicans knew of the allegations years earlier.

Posted by kshaw at December 18, 2004 07:06 AM