Inquiry to Probe Church Handling of Sex Abuse Complaints

By Jamelle Wells
7 News
May 6, 2013

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/article/17026616/nsw-church-sex-abuse-inquiry/


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

New South Wales Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC is overseeing the inquiry, which is looking at how the church handled complaints about former priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher in the Newcastle-Hunter area of New South Wales.

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

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

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 New South Wales inquiry, which is sitting for two weeks this month and three weeks in June-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 is looking at the circumstances in which Peter 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 and allegations church officials did not co-operate with police.

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