Tjh Council CEO Visits Wollongong to Explain Royal Commission

CathNews
May 17, 2013

http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=36241

[TJH Council CEO visits Wollongong]

[TJH Council launches website]


Mr Francis Sullivan, CEO of The Truth, Justice and Healing Council, has visited Wollongong to meet with Bishop Peter Ingham, clergy, religious, school principals, and employees from the Catholic Education Office, CatholicCare and the Office of the Bishop, the Council said in a media release.

Mr Sullivan walked through the process of the Royal Commission and gave an understanding of the public and private hearings. He commented, “This is our opportunity not to let down people who have been damaged by the Church.” All present were very positive in their response to Mr Sullivan’s presentation.

The ABC reports that the inquiry into child sexual abuse in the New South Wales Hunter Valley Catholic Church has heard an investigator did not want to examine allegations of abuse because he was waiting for more information.

Detective Inspector Paul Jacob, manager of the NSW Sex Crime Squad, said after a discussion with former Lake Macquarie commander Dave Waddell he believed there was no prospect of "criminal investigation outcomes" as key people were dead.

In an email, Detective Jacob said he was asking the commission's senior executive team not to investigate, but was quick to tell the Newcastle Supreme Court today that should not be interpreted as the position taken by NSW Police.

He said he had no information at all and had not yet seen a report that looked at the value of the investigation.

The inquiry is examining claims by abuse whistleblower Detective Inspector Peter Fox that NSW Police and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle tried to cover up allegations of child sexual abuse by two priests.

The inquiry also heard contact between Detective Fox and local Fairfax Media journalist Joanne McCarthy was considered a risk that needed to be managed.

Detective Jacob told the court he met investigators in December 2010 and discussed the suspected contact between Detective Fox and Ms McCarthy.

The ABC also reports that police expressed concern about the terms of a compensation settlement between an abuse victim and the Catholic Church. The documents, which were obtained by the Lateline program, show a victim was required to repay his compensation payment plus 10 per cent a year if he decided to take the matter to the police for criminal action.

A police intelligence report, which was tendered at the special commission of inquiry into sexual abuse in the Hunter region, says police objected to the arrangement between a victim of a priest from Gresford Parish and the Catholic Church. But the charges were withdrawn and the trial did not proceed.