Principal Not Told about Catholic Abuse

9 News
July 30, 2013

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/07/30/20/04/principal-not-told-about-catholic-abuse

A pedophile priest continued to teach reading at a Hunter Valley Catholic primary school for nine months despite church leaders knowing he was under police investigation, an inquiry has been told.

Will Callinan - the principal of Saint Brigids Primary, Branxton, and Saint Mary's, at Greta - made the claim before a special NSW commission of inquiry on Tuesday.

He said police told Maitland/Newcastle diocese Bishop Michael Malone in June 2002 that Father James Fletcher was the subject of child sex abuse investigations, but the bishop did not tell him about the allegations until March 2003, just before charges were laid.

He said he had heard a rumour from someone he could not remember in early June 2002 that Fletcher was being investigated.

However, he did not make any formal inquiries and allowed Fletcher to continue primary school reading classes and to visit both schools.

"I accept responsibility about that," Mr Callinan said.

"His role continued as normal.

"He was never alone with any children in reading groups."

Mr Callinan could not remember when exactly Fletcher told him that a police inquiry was underway but when he did Mr Callinan said he "initially thought he was innocent".

Under robust cross examination by barrister Simon Harben, for Bishop Malone, Mr Callinan was asked why he did not make more inquiries about the allegations or restrict Fletcher's school access.

Mr Callinan answered: "The church knew more than I did and they had the authority to stand him down".

Mr Callinan denied assertions made by Bishop Malone in evidence before the commission earlier this month that he warned Mr Callinan on June 20, 2002, that a child sex abuse investigation involving Fletcher was underway, charges were imminent and that his access to schools and students had to be restricted.

Mr Callinan said Bishop Malone first told him of the allegations and the investigation during a telephone call on March 19, 2003.

"He never had a conversation with me (on June 20, 2002) or sought advice (from me) whether Father Fletcher should stay in the parish," he said.

Mr Callinan said: "I was in disbelief" when Bishop Malone referred to an earlier conversation they were alleged to have had about Fletcher in June the previous year.

Although he also took exception to a pastoral message Bishop Malone made public in March 2003 which referred to not standing Fletcher down in 2002 after advice from Mr Callinan and others, Mr Callinan said he did not challenge the bishop about "the untruth" as he feared it could cost him his job.

Asked whether he had every questioned a bishop, Mr Callinan said: "No".

Fletcher was eventually tried for child sexual assault in the NSW district court in 2004 and convicted of nine counts and died in jail in 2006.

The special inquiry, being heard by Commissioner Margaret Cunneen in Newcastle Supreme Court, is examining how church leaders and police handled child sexual abuse allegations involving two Hunter Valley priests, Fletcher and Denis McAlinden, who died in 2005.