Abuse Whistleblower Says Police Wanted Him Fired

By Dan Cox
ABC News
May 7, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-07/abuse-whistleblower-back-in-the-witness-stand/4673826

[with video]

The NSW policeman who blew the whistle on an alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse within the Hunter Valley's Catholic Church says Newcastle's chief police officer was keen to see him fired.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox is back in the witness box for the second day of a special commission of inquiry's public hearings in Newcastle.

The inquiry is looking at how complaints about deceased former priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese were investigated.

Detective Chief Inspector Fox told the hearing, the former Newcastle superintendent Max Mitchell told him to hand over the files on the church and stop investigating the allegations, stop communicating with journalist Joanne McCarthy and stop speaking with witnesses.

Peter Fox admits he breached some of those directives.

The inquiry heard he emailed Ms McCarthy saying 'Max Mitchell would love to see me out of a job'.

He wrote 'I should keep my head down and be careful of any traps'.

Peter Fox told the court there was a certain faction within the police department determined not to investigate the allegations fully.

He rejected claims he was miffed about being excluded from the strikeforce.

Earlier, Detective Chief Inspector Fox told the hearing he did not enter all the documents into the police system because it would have attracted scrutiny from senior police.

The court heard he kept a to do list of people to interview to himself because he did not trust senior colleagues.

He said he intentionally left some documents behind when he met with senior colleagues in December 2010.

Peter Fox told the hearing that he was hoping he would not have to surrender them, despite being told to bring all documents relating to sexual abuse within the church.

He says he lied to police because he was suspicious of those at the meeting.

Detective Chief Inspector Fox says he saw local Fairfax journalist Joanne McCarthy as a complainant and informant but did not enter her in the police informant register for the same reason.

Peter Fox told the court she gave him the names and phone numbers of witnesses and she knew a lot about the crimes.

Ms McCarthy is also expected to give evidence to the inquiry.

The Commissioner Margaret Cunneen yesterday reminded victims it is not too late to come forward.

The hearing continues.