Fact, Fiction and a Fight Far from Over...

By Jen Cowley
Dubbo Photo News
June 7, 2014

http://dubbophotonews.com.au/index.php/dpn/categories/local-news/item/3081-fact-fiction-and-a-fight-far-from-over-special-commission-enquiry-report-backs-grant

It’s a rare politician who doesn’t like to be proved right, but on at least this occasion, vindication is bittersweet for Troy Grant – former policeman turned politician and, recently, state government minister.

This week, a report from the Special Commission of Enquiry – set up to examine claims by former detective Peter Fox about the conduct of police in investigating child sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle – found that Grant, who led those investigations as a young detective during the 90s, was “an impressive and credible witness”, while rejecting Fox’s assertions that Grant had referred to “Catholic mafia” and complained of police hierarchy hindering his investigation.

Grant has always denied Fox’s version of their conversation, and has expressed his disappointment, on many occasions, over what he saw as a cruel distraction from the issue at hand – finding justice for the victims of child sexual abuse at the hands of the clergy.

The report is weighty – and Grant is glowing in his praise of Commissioner Margaret Cunneen in getting to the bottom of allegations made by Fox who, it’s now widely agreed, lost perspective on an otherwise admirable crusade for justice.

According to the commission, Grant’s evidence into the investigation of priest Father Vincent Ryan (who was subsequently found guilty of offences against 31 victims and sentences to lengthy gaol terms) was “persuasive”.