Church Knew Risk of Pedophile Priest

By Dan Box
The Australian
July 19, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/church-knew-risk-of-pedophile-priest/story-fngburq5-1226681652752

A FORMER senior Catholic cleric believes the church could have reported a pedophile priest to police years earlier than it did as there was a risk he could abuse other children at any time, an inquiry has heard.

The former vicar-general of the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, William Burston, said information about the priest's crimes was provided to police in 1999, only after attempts to deal with him internally had failed.

Under cross-examination at the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry, Father Burston said two separate complaints against the priest, Denis McAlinden, could have been passed on at least as early as 1995.

Maria Gerace, a lawyer representing one of McAlinden's victims, asked if the priest "was indeed a risk of reoffending" at the time.

"Yes," Father Burston replied. Asked if he considered this risk, he said: "I was not carrying the case, I was simply carrying out various parts of it, so I don't see that as something that I would necessarily turn my mind to."

The inquiry has heard the diocese had written evidence suggesting McAlinden abused children as early as 1953, although the former vicar-general has said he does not recall seeing the priest's file. Father Burston was also questioned on the state of his memory after using the phrase "I can't recall" or similar more than 60 times in response to questions on his knowledge of child abuse by priests while he was in office.

Denying he had been selective in the evidence he gave to the inquiry, Father Burston said his memory had been affected by a series of operations under anaesthetic in recent years.

His memory, however, was quite precise on other subjects, Father Burston said, including the dates on which a colleague had taken leave, and the names of his secretaries from this time.

The cleric also said he was unaware the diocese had twice bought one-way plane tickets for McAlinden, to travel to Papua New Guinea and England, although he said such an arrangement would be unusual.

The inquiry also heard that, when confronted with evidence that another priest, Jim Fletcher, was also abusing children, Father Burston was initially "uncertain" the priest could be guilty.

Before Fletcher's arrest and ultimate conviction, the inquiry heard, Father Burston told another church official that the priest's alleged victim "had been demonstrating bizarre behaviour for years".

He also said the victim's claim to have been sexually abused by Fletcher "was just another sign of (his) psychological disturbance", the inquiry heard.

Fletcher died in jail in 2006. McAlinden died in 2005, before he could be charged by NSW Police.