Abuse Victim Thanks Whistleblower Cop

ABC News
July 23, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-24/abuse-victim-thanks-whistleblower-cop/4839412?section=nsw


A victim of a Hunter Valley paedophile priest has praised the policeman who blew the whistle on an alleged cover-up of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

The inquiry is investigating allegations the Catholic church covered-up abuse by priests Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.

Fletcher died in jail just two years into his 10-year sentence for abusing a victim, known as AH.

AH told the inquiry he wonders how different his life would be if senior clergy had taken action against Fletcher years before his abuse, instead of moving the priest from parish to parish.

"There are many, many more victims so I want the commission to uncover that," he said.

"I want it to highlight also the work that people such as Peter Fox have done to bring this all to the front."

AH has thanked Detective Chief Inspector Fox, saying he is "a man of integrity who was very compassionate" to him.

The general secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, father Brian Lucas, is expected to give evidence at the public hearings today.

Father Lucas is a lawyer as well as the general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

The commission's heard allegations that father Lucas did not go police after McAlinden confessed to him in 1993.

The commission's also heard the bishop at the time had a "committee", which included father Lucas, and another senior member of clergy who cannot be named.