Premier: Sex Abuse Inquiry to Proceed

By Sean Nicholls
Sydney Morning Herald
November 22, 2012

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-sex-abuse-inquiry-to-proceed-20121121-29qc2.html

THE Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has announced the special commission of inquiry into the handling of allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the Hunter will proceed and will report by next April.

Mr O'Farrell revealed plans for the NSW inquiry before the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced a national royal commission into child sexual abuse, raising questions about whether it would go ahead.

In Parliament on Wednesday, Mr O'Farrell confirmed the NSW inquiry would proceed and released its terms of reference.

He said it was important to investigate the claims that prompted the inquiry by a senior police officer, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox, that his investigations into paedophile priests had been hampered by police and the church.

He made the allegations in an open letter to The Newcastle Herald and in an interview with the ABC's Lateline program.

Chief Inspector Fox alleged the cover-ups extended to ''a number of diocese bishops. It potentially goes even higher than that''.

He said he was ordered by a superior to stand down from his long-running investigation into allegations against a paedophile priest, Denis McAlinden.

''Peter Fox's claims are serious and deserve investigation,'' Mr O'Farrell said.

The inquiry, which has the powers of a royal commission, will be headed by the NSW deputy senior crown prosecutor, Margaret Cunneen, SC.

The terms of reference require Ms Cunneen to investigate and report on the circumstances under which Chief Inspector Fox was asked to cease his investigation, and whether Catholic Church officials co-operated with it. Ms Cunneen has been asked to report on or by April 5 next year.