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	Inquiry into Church Cover-Up 'Disgrace' By Joanne McCarthy Newcastle Herald April 18, 2011 http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/inquiry-into-church-coverup-disgrace/2136525.aspx THE police investigation of an alleged Catholic Church cover-up of a Hunter paedophile priest has been branded a "disgrace" after nearly a year of delays, including the loss of a three-member strike force charged with investigating it. Police were back to square one last week in an investigation of serial paedophile priest Denis McAlinden, one of only a handful of formal Australian investigations of alleged church cover-ups of child sex offender priests. The appointment of Detective Inspector Graeme Parker to head Strike Force Lantle comes almost a year after the Newcastle Herald handed over church documents related to McAlinden. The 1995 documents showed senior church figures tried to secretly force McAlinden from the priesthood, in full knowledge of the criminal nature of allegations against him, the "grave problems for the community" his behaviour represented, and without reporting him to police. The documents showed bishops Michael Malone and Leo Clarke and future archbishop Phillip Wilson had roles in the secret defrocking at the time police were investigating another notorious Hunter paedophile priest, Vince Ryan. One document assured McAlinden, whose victims were young girls aged four to 12, that his "good name would be protected by the confidential nature of this process". But despite the documents, the referral of possible witnesses, and support for a full investigation by the Australian Lawyers Alliance and retired NSW Police assistant commissioner John Ure, the police investigation has struggled. This week, Lawyers Alliance NSW spokesman Dr Andrew Morrison SC said the police handling of the matter was a "disgrace", and "it seems to me there has been a failure by the police force to pursue very serious issues despite regularly having it drawn to their attention". Police handling of the matter has included: ● The failure of police to formally respond to a complaint about police treatment lodged by the first McAlinden victim contacted by investigators. ● The failure of a senior police officer with responsibility for the McAlinden matter to respond to an offer of help last year from the then police officer Troy Grant, who investigated Vince Ryan. Mr Grant, a newly-elected NSW government MP, said this week he was "obviously concerned there still seems to be issues that have to be fully investigated". ● The loss of experienced Strike Force Georgiana detective Shaun McLeod from the police service in June last year after his recommendation for a full investigation of the alleged McAlinden cover-up was rejected by senior police. ● Repeated rejection of Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox's offers to work on the McAlinden case, despite his investigation of the priest in 1999 when he issued a warrant for McAlinden's arrest. The rejections last year culminated in an order that he hand over statements from several McAlinden victims and cease any involvement with the case. Chief Inspector Fox was also ordered not to make any comment to the media about the matter. Last week Inspector Fox gave evidence in a court hearing involving a serving police officer, which has included allegations of internal conflict about police handling of the matter from last April. ● Statements from witnesses alleging a senior Australian Catholic Church figure had knowledge of the serious nature of McAlinden's offences in 1993 when he allegedly spoke directly to a number of McAlinden victims to take action against the priest. Police were not contacted. It was not until two years later, as police were about to charge Vince Ryan, that the church tried to secretly remove McAlinden from the priesthood. ● The transfer of the McAlinden case between police commands and the appointment of Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey to manage the case in December after the loss of a three-member strike force to stress and sick leave in the space of a week. This week, Detective Inspector Graeme Parker conceded there had been problems but said "the matter will be fully investigated and any matters of criminality arising will be prosecuted". "I'll use whatever resources I need," he said. Northern Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Carlene York said Strike Force Lantle had not been dormant. "This is a serious and complex matter currently under investigation and as such no comment can be made regarding the findings thus far. The community can be assured that NSW Police Force considers this a serious matter and is investigating it thoroughly," she said.
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