Child Sexual Abuse Claims "Not Treated Urgently"

By Dan Cox
ABC News
May 10, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/abuse-claims-given-go-slow-by-police-inquiry-hears/4681990

Photo: Whistleblower policeman Peter Fox says he was told to stop investigating alleged abuse by Catholic priests. (AAP: Jon Reid)

The head of the NSW Sex Crimes Squad has conceded alleged child sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley's Catholic Church was not investigated with much urgency.

On day five of the special commission of inquiry's public hearings at Newcastle Supreme Court, the commander of the NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec was giving evidence.

The probe is examining claims by abuse whistleblower Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox he was directed by superiors to stop investigating the allegations of abuse by two priests in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.

Detective Fox's barrister, Mark Cohen, suggested police emails showed there was not much urgency among Strike Force Lantle investigators to examine the claims.

Detective Kerlatec agreed and conceded that while an investigating officer appeared keen to proceed quickly, he was being "shut down" by his superior, Detective Inspector Dave Waddell.

But Detective Kerlatec rejected claims that Strike Force Lantle was "designed to fail".

Mr Cohen also suggested there was a "blockage" when it came to material sent to police by local Fairfax newspaper journalist Joanne McCarthy.

A police intelligence report reveals police concern of a possible paedophile ring operating within the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese.

Detective Superintendent Kerlatec's statement, tendered to the court, included an intelligence report written by whistleblower Peter Fox in August 2004 and sent to the Sex Crimes Squad.

The report names James Fletcher as a person of interest, as well as convicted paedophile Vincent Ryan.

The report concludes, "in view of all the circumstances surrounding these persons and their offences, the similarity of victims' ages, location of the crimes and timeframes, there is concern that there may be a paedophile network within the Catholic Church, and other clergy members are assisting to conceal this".

The inquiry continues on Monday.