Nsw Sex Abuse Hearings to Be Closed to Public in Case of Criminality

By Jared Owens
The Australian
April 22, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/nsw-sex-abuse-hearings-to-be-closed-to-public-in-case-of-criminality/story-fngburq5-1226625733864

HEARINGS conducted by the NSW Cunneen sex abuse inquiry will be closed to the public iif the witnesses are expected to give evidence of criminality.

A directions hearing in Sydney was this morning told the inquiry's "in camera" sessions would not be limited to the evidence of sex abuse victims, but also "certain other relevant witnesses" whose evidence could relate to "future criminal proceedings".

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Julia Lonergan SC, said the public hearings would be held in private, "without access to them by the media or the general public", so as "not to prejudice by pre-trial publicity any future criminal proceedings".

Special Commissioner Margaret Cunneen is investigating the circumstances in which NSW Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox was directed to cease investigating sexual abuse at the state's notorious Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese, and whether church figures obstructed or hindered his investigations.

The inquiry was ordered by Premier Barry O'Farrell after Mr Fox aired his concerns in the media late last year. It is separate to the Commonwealth's Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse.

Commissioner Cunneen also made an order restricting witness statements from being circulated outside the inquiry's direct participants, or being used for purposes other than conducting the inquiry itself.

The public hearings are expected to commence next month.