Child Abuse Inquiry Begins in Newcastle

By Jason Gordon
Newcastle Herald
May 6, 2013

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1480444/child-abuse-inquiry-begins-in-newcastle/?cs=305

SENIOR Newcastle police held informal discussions about charging former Newcastle Catholic Bishop Michael Malone with concealing serious child sex crimes, an inquiry has heard.

The Special Commission of Inquiry into the police handling of allegations against the church began in Newcastle Supreme Court this morning before Commissioner Margaret Cunneen SC.

In her opening address, Commissioner Cunneen said the sexual abuse of ‘‘inherently vulnerable children’’ represented a ‘‘reprehensible betrayal of trust’’. She noted the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle had a ‘‘very troubled history’’ of priests who had abused children.

Commissioner Cunneen said the inquiry would this week focus on allegations made by Detective Chief Inspector Fox in the Newcastle Herald and on ABC television’s Lateline program last November, during which he alleged he had been asked to cease his investigations into the church and that the church had attempted to cover up instances of child sexual abuse.

Inspector Fox took to the stand shortly after 11am today. He has told the inquiry he believed the diocese had warned former priest James Fletcher that he was being investigated by police.

The scope of charging then-Bishop Michael Malone was informally discussed with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Inspector Fox said, but that police ‘‘would be better off using Malone as a witness’’.

In further evidence, Inspector Fox said other senior police had been warned off investigating allegations that the crimes of convicted paedophile priest Vince Ryan were concealed by other clergy.

One, who will give evidence this week, was ‘‘highly critical of police in Newcastle [who had] made attempts to hinder his investigation’’, Inspector Fox said.

Asked about why he became interested in investigating alleged cover-ups by clergy, Inspector Fox said ‘‘when you get a number of clergy in a small area all being charged with similar crimes’’, he suspected their actions might have been part of a broader paedophile ring.

His suspicions were raised when he received a large amount of information and documents from Newcastle Herald journalist Joanne McCarthy, he said.

The inquiry continues this afternoon.

Earlier today: Child abuse inquiry begins in Newcastle

DETECTIVE Chief Inspector Peter Fox raised concerns with senior police about alleged cover-ups of child abuse within the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese of the Catholic Church as early as 2004, a court heard Monday morning.

The Special Commission of Inquiry into the police handling of allegations against the church began in Newcastle Supreme Court this morning before Commissioner Margaret Cunneen SC.

In opening statements, Commissioner Cunneen said the inquiry will this week focus on allegations made by Inspector Fox in the Newcastle Herald and on ABC television’s Lateline program last November where he alleged that he had been asked to cease his investigations into the church.

Counsel Assisting, Ms Lonergan SC, said the inquiry will consider whether or not Inspector Fox was asked to cease investigating the cover-up claims, what he had been investigating, and whether or not those matters were shelved or ‘‘put to one side because they were considered too complex’’.

Ms Lonergan said the matters related to offences committed by former priests Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher, both convicted pedophiles who have both since died. She said the inquiry will hear that some allegations against the two men were reported to police as far back as 1976, and in one case, as far back as the 1950s.

Inspector Fox will take the stand shortly to begin his evidence.