Peter Fox Was 'Obsessed', Says Senior Cop

By Elle Watson
Maitland Mercury
June 26, 2013

http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/1598688/peter-fox-was-obsessed-says-senior-cop/?cs=12

INQUIRY CONTINUES: A senior police officer says Peter Fox was trying to control Lantle.

A senior police officer overseeing a Hunter strike force into sexual abuse concealment has told a Commission of Inquiry, Peter Fox was a zealot who was obsessed with taking part in the investigation. 

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Humphrey told the Commission of Inquiry the detective was "beyond driven" in his attempt to be involved in the investigation into concealment of sexual abuse by Hunter priests. 

"It just got to the stage where he couldn't be told no...he continually tried to take control of Lantle," Detective Chief Inspector Humphrey said this morning. 

He said he lodged a formal complaint against Detective Chief Inspector Fox following a series of articles in the Newcastle Herald by journalist Joanne McCarthy. 

"[We were] at the end of our tether with interference or perceived interference. It had become untenable."

Detective Chief Inspector Humphrey said he had a well-founded suspicion Detective Chief Inspector Fox was the source of the leak. 

The special commission is examining how police and the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic clergy dealt sexual abuse allegations against priests Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher - both are now dead.