Fox Evidence Contradicted

By Elle Watson
Maitland Mercury
July 10, 2013

http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/1629046/fox-evidence-contradicted/?cs=171

CONTRADICTED: A former policeman has contradicted an assessment by Chief Inspector Peter Fox that Catholic Church officials had covered up evidence.

A former police officer has denied he ever had concerns about a church cover-up despite contrary evidence by whistleblower Peter Fox.

Donald Brown's only involvement with the investigation into paedophile priest James Fletcher was taking a statement from Nelson Bay priest Robert Searle in 2003 over a confrontation with one of Fletcher's victims five years earlier. 

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox said Father Searle told him that the man was drunk and yelling about "filthy things" priests do to children outside the presbytery.

 But the statement taken by Mr Brown, who left the NSW Police Force in 2010, had no mention of filthy things. 

In a statement to the ombudsman, Chief Inspector Fox said he and Mr Brown had suspected collusion between clergy members. 

But Mr Brown told the special commission of inquiry he had not form that opinion because of his limited involvement in the case. 

He said his former superior should have asked him before using his name in the report.

Just before lunch, Detective Senior Constable Jacqueline Flipo, who investigated paedophile Denis McAlinden in the late 1990s, said she the church had helped in her inquiries.

"I believe they were co-operative ... I believe they were forthcoming," she told the inquiry. 

She said she was not aware McAlinden had been charged over child sexual abuse in Western Australia earlier in the decade because the police record system at the time. 

She conceded it would have helped with her investigation. Former Bishop Michael Malone will give evidence this afternoon.