Fox Was Suspected As Source of Leaks, Abuse Inquiry Told

By Stephen Ryan
Sydney Morning Herald
May 14, 2013

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fox-was-suspected-as-source-of-leaks-abuse-inquiry-told-20130514-2jkkn.html

Carlene York. Photo: Darren Pateman

Senior police were concerned that confidential details about the investigation into alleged cover-ups of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church were being divulged and detective Peter Fox was the suspected source of the leaks, the former Newcastle police commander said.

Assistant Commissioner Carlene York told an inquiry into church abuse on Tuesday that there was no evidence Newcastle police did not want to investigate the claims and the investigation that was done was ''thorough''and ''extensive''.

She also said she had never heard the term ''Catholic mafia'' during her time as Northern Region commander and her decision to assign the investigation to the Newcastle City detectives office was based on several factors including the locality of the alleged offences and the resources of that office.

Peter Fox. Photo: Dean Osland

The Special Commission of Inquiry being held in Newcastle is examining claims by Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox that he was ordered to stop investigating claims of concealment of sexual abuse within the church.

The commission is focusing on allegations involving serial sex offender Father Denis McAlinden and convicted paedophile Father James Fletcher, both now dead. The inquiry is also examining allegations that church officials hindered such investigations.

The inquiry heard the electronic files of the strike force charged with investigating the claims were marked ''highly protected'', which restricted access to those files.

Assistant Commissioner York said there were concerns confidential information was being leaked to the Newcastle Herald newspaper and she was later told by another officer that the suspected source of the leaks was Peter Fox.

She said such leaks could hinder an investigation because it could tip-off suspects.

Assistant Commissioner York said it was her decision to assign the investigation to Newcastle City detectives after she received a report from Inspector Fox in 2010 containing several allegations.

She said she never considered Inspector Fox to be on the strike force because he was crime manager at Port Stephens, one of the smallest commands in the region, and there were insufficient resources to cover him. She said every command in the region was under-resourced but Port Stephens in particular was too small to undertake such a complex inquiry.

Referred to a comment by another officer that an element of the investigation was ''abysmally managed'', she said she did not agree.

The hearing before Commissioner Margaret Cunneen continues.