Senior Police Officer Was Victim of Abuse

ABC News
June 29, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-28/senior-police-officer-was-victim-of-abuse/4789138

[with video]

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: Newcastle's most senior police officer has told a special commission of inquiry he and his friends were abused by a priest as schoolboys.

The evidence came as the chief investigator into alleged child sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy in the Newcastle region shone a light of the volume of cases.

Philippa McDonald reports.

PHILIPPA MCDONALD, REPORTER: For the man who runs one of the busiest police commands in the state, this inquiry is personal.

"I was assaulted by a priest in front of 40 students."

Superintendent John Gralton has told the special commission into child sexual abuse in the Hunter region that he wasn't alone in his humiliation, which he reported to police.

"I gave details of probably five or six friends of mine who were indecently assaulted to investigators."

And he described as abhorrent allegations by detective chief inspector Peter Fox that police had not done enough to investigate allegations of a cover-up by the Catholic Church in Newcastle and Maitland.

"Every time I see a paedophile hit the dock and charged with serious matters in relation to child paedophilia, I celebrate that."

The head of a strike force set up to investigate church-related child sexual abuse has told the inquiry that in recent years, six Catholic priests and three brothers have been charged with more than 440 offences involving at least 110 victims.

Detective sergeant Kristi Faber told the inquiry it's growing daily.

"Police see the covering up of child sexual abuse as akin to murder."

PETER FOX, WHISTLEBLOWER: The church aspect I think is what most victims are very genuinely interested in about and what has gone on within the church system.

PHILIPPA MCDONALD: Detective sergeant Faber said in evidence that Peter Fox warned her that the Catholic Mafia didn't like her and her life could be in danger.

Counsel for the Catholic Church told the inquiry "That's a scandalous allegation".

Philippa McDonald, Lateline.