Inquiry into Nsw Church Sex Abuse to Begin

By Jamelle Wells
ABC News
May 5, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-05/nsw-inquiry-into-sex-abuse-and-the-church-begins/4670218

The inquiry will look at how the church handled complaints about two former priests in the Hunter area.

Some of the most senior police in New South Wales will give evidence at a public inquiry into child sex abuse and the Catholic Church.

NSW deputy crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen is overseeing the inquiry, which begins tomorrow.

It will look at how the church handled complaints about former priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher in the Hunter area.

The men have since died but when giving an overview of the inquiry in February, Ms Cunneen said they "victimised" children and it appears that "collective responsibility" to take action against them was ignored.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell set up the inquiry after Hunter Chief Inspector Peter Fox appeared on the ABC's Lateline program.

Chief Inspector Fox alleged members of the church did not report child sex allegations to police and that he was told to stop investigating how the church was handling the allegations.

The NSW inquiry, which is sitting for two weeks in May and three weeks in June and July, is separate from the Federal Royal Commission into child sex abuse.

Witnesses include church officials such as the Australian Catholics Bishops Conference secretary, Father Brian Lucas, and some of the state's most senior police.

The first part of the inquiry will look at the circumstances in which Chief Inspector Fox was allegedly asked to stop investigating how the church handled some complaints.

The second part of the inquiry in June will look at how the church handled the complaints as well as allegations that church officials did not co-operate with police.

Ms Cunneen will allow some witnesses to give their evidence in a closed court so as not to prejudice any potential criminal cases related to the inquiry.