'Total Commitment' by Police to Investigate Abuse
By Dan Cox
The inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Hunter Valley's Catholic Church has heard there is a "total commitment" by New South Wales Police to investigate allegations of abuse. The special commission's public hearings have wrapped up but the legal representatives for the key witnesses have been given the opportunity to make oral submissions. The inquiry's first part is looking at whistleblower senior policeman Peter Fox's claims he was ordered to stop investigating two paedophile priests. Representing New South Wales Police, Wayne Roser told the commission "officers at all levels take allegations of child sexual abuse, and allegations of concealment, seriously". He said there is a "total commitment" to investigate "thoroughly and extensively", and to "provide as much victim support as possible". Mr Roser said Strike Force Georgiana had laid more than 400 charges against 10 men, including six Catholic priests. He said that strike force was "undermined by Peter Fox". Peter Fox's barrister Mark Cohen said "there's not a skerrick of evidence" his client conspired with local Fairfax journalist Joanne McCarthy against New South Wales Police. He said the claims weren't put to either of them while they were in the witness box. Mr Cohen said claims of a "gross, grubby and terrible conspiracy" are nonsense. He said "it's not enough to assert Peter Fox is the devil incarnate and New South Wales Police is as pure as the driven snow". Mr Cohen also told the commission "it doesn't take much to reach the conclusion" that if his client was allowed to continue investigating "there would have been hell to pay". Mr Roser said Peter Fox undermined a strike force, and endeavoured to get the ABC to drip feed his allegations to the public in a bid to prolong criticism of the investigation. He said Peter Fox was never a member of Strike Force Lantle and therefore could not be removed. Fairfax journalist Joanne McCarthy's work regarding clergy abuse in the region helped trigger the state inquiry and the national Royal Commission. Her barrister Alex Irving today told the commission it is not his clients view that Strike Force Lantle was a sham, but it was not without its issues. Mr Irving said the investigation was "managed abysmally" for around 12 months and it "went off the rails". He said Ms McCarthy wrote about it, "not to kick police while they were down" but because it was a "matter of public importance". The Commissioner has been given until February next year to hand down her findings. The report will be referred to the national Royal Commission into child sexual abuse within institutions.
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