Senior Serving Clergyman Refuses to Give Interview to Police Investigating Child Sexual Abuse

ABC News
May 18, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-17/senior-serving-clergyman-refuses-to-give-interview/4697692?section=nsw

[with video]

The NSW Special Commission of Inquiry has been told a police investigation into alleged concealment of child sexual assault by senior clergy in the Hunter Valley region had been very thorough, but that a senior serving clergyman had refused to give an interview to investigating officers.

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The NSW Special Commission of Inquiry has been told that a police investigation into alleged concealment of child sexual assault by senior clergy in the Hunter was very thorough.

Ian Lloyd QC was brought into the inquiry to assess the three briefs of evidence presented to the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions by Strike Force Lantel.

Mr Lloyd's report revealed that one very senior serving clergyman has refused to give an interview to the strike force.

Suzie Smith reports from Newcastle.

SUZIE SMITH, REPORTER: In the witness box former senior Crown Prosecutor, Ian Lloyd QC. He's the Commission's independent witness called in for his professional opinions. Today he was asked about the claim by whistleblower police officer, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox that Strike Force Lantel was set up to fail. Mr Lloyd told the inquiry the strike force's briefs were of an excellent standard. He said:

(EXTRACT FROM REPORT TO SPECIAL COMMISSION)

IAN LLOYD, QC (VOICEOVER): The Brief of Evidence is as good as I have seen in many countries... It is on an excellent standard... thorough and rigorous...

SUZIE SMITH: Mr Lloyd also gave evidence about the key witness statements taken by DCI Peter Fox for his investigations. He told the inquiry they were of a fundamental importance. He said:

(EXTRACT FROM REPORT TO SPECIAL COMMISSION)

IAN LLOYD, QC (VOICEOVER): It's patently clear... that DCI Fox has great empathy and had formed a very fine rapport with victims he's interviewed.

SUZIE SMITH: Ian Lloyd QC dismissed claims that the investigation had gone on too long. He said the two year period was not unreasonable given the historical nature of the crime. In his report tendered as evidence to the inquiry, he said one senior serving member of the clergy had decided not give an interview to police.

(EXTRACT FROM REPORT TO SPECIAL COMMISSION)

IAN LLOYD, QC (VOICEOVER): The one exception, a still serving senior member of the RCC (Roman Catholic Church) clergy, exercised his legal right to refuse to be question by police.

SUZIE SMITH: A statement tendered yesterday by the head of the NSW Sex Crimes Squad Detective Inspector Paul Jacob referred to:

(EXTRACT FROM REPORT TO SPECIAL COMMISSION)

PAUL JACOB, DETECTIVE INSPECTOR (VOICEOVER): Archbishop Wilson and his declining to be interviewed... I do not regard this as an obstruction, but merely as the exercise of Archbishop Wilson's legal rights.

SUZIE SMITH: Archbishop Philip Wilson is the head of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Also giving evidence today Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell. He denied he gave DCI Fox a direction to stop investigating the alleged cover up by members of the clergy of paedophilia in the Newcastle Maitland diocese.

The inquiry resumes again in late June in Newcastle.

Suzie Smith, Lateline.