Police Wind up Church Cover-Up Investigation

ABC Newcastle
July 31, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-31/police-wind-up-church-cover-up-investigation/4166642/?site=newcastle

Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson.

The detective in charge of an investigation into the alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse by a Hunter Valley Catholic priest says a brief is being finalised to hand to prosecutors.

Strike Force Lantle has spent almost two years investigating claims that senior clergy tried to cover-up allegations against Father Denis McAlinden.

The paedophile priest sexually assaulted girls in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese over four decades, but died in 2005 without being charged.

Detective Graeme Parker headed the investigation and says the brief of evidence about the Church's handling of the McAlinden case is due to be handed to prosecutors within weeks.

"We'll be submitting that to the public prosecutor to see whether anyone contained within that investigation has committed any offences, whether anyone has deliberately covered up any sort of serious offences against victims."

Detective Graeme Parker says a number of people within the Church were interviewed, including the former Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Michael Malone.

But he denies police identified anyone as a 'person of interest'.

"There've been a lot of people spoken to by Strike Force Lantle and everyone within that investigation who has been spoken to has been dealt with as a person who is assisting us with our inquiries."

He says he has no complaints about the cooperation of the Catholic Church, but confirmed that Adelaide Archbishop Phillip Wilson declined to be interviewed.

"There are people within the investigation who have obviously taken their right to silence and that's everyone's right.

"Nothing should be drawn, no conclusions should be drawn from that."

A spokeswoman for the Archbishop says it would be irresponsible to comment while the matter is with police.