Victim of Paedophile Priest Testifies

By Ian Kirkwood
Newcastle Herald
July 23, 2013

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1655936/video-victim-of-paedophile-priest-testifies/?cs=303

A VICTIM of paedophile priest Jim Fletcher has given an emotional statement to the special commission of inquiry in Newcastle about the impact that the abuse has had on his life.

The abuse of the victim, known in proceedings as AH, has been a centrepiece of this inquiry and his appearance in the witness box had been long anticipated.

The commission room broke into applause at the end of his statement.

Commissioner Cunneen reminded AH that that ‘‘no shame’’ was attached to him and that his courage had ‘‘placed the same where it belongs’’.

AH began by telling the commission of the difficulty he had in telling people about the abuse.

He spoke of going to the police and of a friend arranging a meeting with a ‘‘good’’ officer, detective Peter Fox.

Thank you Peter, thanks,’’ AH said.

AH said was angry that the church had allegedly tipped Fletcher off and had clubbed together against him and his family at Fletcher’s trial.

He said he was amazed that Bishop Michael Malone had rung him the day that Fletcher was convicted and had asked him during that conversation to ‘‘keep the faith’’.

‘‘What faith?’’ AH asked.

He said Fletcher’s abuse had had a devastating impact on his life.

He had attempted suicide, had lost a marriage and a business.

He said that as his situation had become more known, complete strangers had begun coming up to him in the street divulging their experiences of abuse from the church, from schools and from families.

Outside the commission, AH spoke to reporters and said he felt he needed to make a statement having listened to the coverage and read about it from a distance, as he no longer lived in the Hunter.

The commission’s public hearings resumed with monsignor Allan Hart in the witness box.

Monsignor Hart was questioned by counsel assisting Julia Lonergan, over conversations with AJ, a victim of paedophile priest Denis McAlinden.

Monsignor Hart said these conversations could have taken place as early as February or March of 1993.

He said Bishop Leo Clarke and a Sydney priest, Father Brian Lucas, were the main ones involved in working on the complaint against McAlinden.

Father Lucas is now the Canberra-based general secretary of the the Australian Bishops Conference.

Counsel for Father Lucas, Paul Skinner, objected to a line of questioning from Ms Cunneen, who was asking Monsignor Hart whether he thought Father Lucas was going to report McAlinden to the police.