Ex-Cop, National Party Mp Troy Grant Says Catholic Nun 'Tipped Off' Paedophile Priest

By Neil Keene
The Australian
May 8, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sham-and-shame-abuse-inquiry-designed-to-fail/story-e6frg6n6-1226637157285

[with video]

FORMER police officer and National party MP Troy Grant has made explosive claims about cover-ups of child sex abuse within the Catholic church, including deliberate actions by a nun to tip off a paedophile priest.

Speaking to media after giving evidence at a special commission of inquiry in Newcastle this morning, Mr Grant said that while he never encountered a "Catholic mafia" within the police force, there was certainly collusion within the clergy to hide serious sex offences.

"There were individuals who acted completely inappropriately, commensurate with their pastoral care. I believe they acted illegally," he said.

Those people allegedly included a nun who Mr Grant claimed tipped off a priest, later convicted of child sex offences, the night before he was due to be interviewed by police.

He said he had evidence of senior clergy cover-ups dating back as far as 1974.

"Their level of culpability has never been tested in the court system, they've never been questioned or put before their peers to answer for what they did," he said.

"What they did in 1974, 1975, 1981 and then 1995 meant that a lot of (church abuse) victims need not have been victims - that's where the tragedy is."

Mr Grant will provide further evidence to the commission of inquiry when it addresses claims of church cover-ups next month.

Earlier today, MR Grant denied using the phrase "Catholic mafia" to describe senior police covering up child sex abuse within the church.

Police whistleblower Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox told a special commission of inquiry in Newcastle on Monday that Mr Grant had used the phrase in 2002 or 2003 while discussing problems he allegedly encountered with investigating church-related abuse.

Det Chief Insp Fox claimed Mr Grant had complained that senior officers were snowing him under with other work to prevent him completing a prompt and thorough investigation.

But Mr Grant, who took to the stand this morning to give evidence, said none of those claims were true.

"I was well-known within the organisation (NSW Police Force) ... for not being afraid to speak up," he said.

However, he was certain he had never uttered the phrase "Catholic mafia", nor did he have any reason to.

"It's one that is obviously attention grabbing and it is one I am sure I would remember saying," he said.

He added he never encountered any hindrance to his investigations within the police force.

His evidence continues.

Yesterday, Det Chief Insp Fox told the inquiry he started looking into allegations of church-related child sex abuse in 2002, with subsequent investigations uncovering what he believed to be a cover-up by both the church and senior police.

The veteran officer grew so wary of his superiors that by late 2010 he was blatantly ignoring commands, failing to log investigations through official channels and deleting emails from his computer to avoid disciplinary action.

Senior police pulled him off the case and ordered him to hand over all documents. Insp Fox said he believed the reasons for taking him off the case were "quite sinister".