Nsw Abuse Inquiry to Begin in Newcastle

Sydney Morning Herald
May 5, 2013

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-abuse-inquiry-to-begin-in-newcastle-20130505-2j0z6.html

The man who helped bring about a NSW public inquiry into alleged Catholic Church cover-ups of child sex abuse will give evidence on its first two days.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox will be the first of a long list of senior police who will be in the witness box when the inquiry begins in the Newcastle Supreme Court on Monday.

The special commission of inquiry was announced by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell in November, following explosive allegations made to the media by Insp Fox.

He alleged the Catholic church had covered up evidence about pedophile priests in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in the Hunter region of NSW.

The inquiry will look at how the church handled complaints about former priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher, both now dead.

It will also look at the circumstances in which Insp Fox was asked to stop investigating sex abuse in the diocese.

The NSW inquiry will sit for two weeks in May and three weeks through June and July.

It is separate from the federal royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse.

Margaret Cunneen SC has been appointed as Special Commissioner for the inquiry.