Bishop Michael Malone in the Hot Seat over Principal and Paedophile Priest
By Paul Maguire
A RETIRED Catholic bishop has been challenged before a NSW inquiry over his version of how and when he informed a school principal about a suspected pedophile priest. Bishop Michael Malone was being questioned at a special commission of inquiry in Newcastle into how the church and police handled allegations of child sexual abuse by priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden. In earlier evidence to the commission, Bishop Malone said he was told by police on June 20, 2002, that Fr Fletcher was under investigation for child abuse. He said on that day he went to Saint Brigid's Catholic Primary School in Branxton and spoke to Fr Fletcher and the principal, Will Callinan. Bishop Malone said he told Mr Callinan charges against Fr Fletcher were imminent and his access to the school and students had to be restricted. Mr Callinan's lawyer Mr Potter told Bishop Malone Mr Callinan said he was not at Branxton that day, as he was at a school in Greta. Mr Potter suggested Bishop Malone had spoken to Mr Callinan by phone on March 19, 2003, just before charges were laid against Fr Fletcher and when the NSW Ombudsman's office began investigating how allegations against Fr Fletcher had been handled. Bishop Malone disagreed. Mr Potter put to Bishop Malone he then told Mr Callinan that Fr Fletcher would be stood down and Mr Callinan was to tell parents Fr Fletcher was sick. "To use that (sickness) as an excuse, no I would not have done that," Bishop Malone said. Mr Potter suggested to Bishop Malone: "You were in a position of power over the principal?" "Power is not a word I would use, I had some authority," Bishop Malone said. "You controlled the finances, you had the power to have him removed," Mr Potter said. The commission continues with Bishop Malone in the witness box.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.