Strike Force Lantle set up in 2010 ...

news.com.au
March 17, 2015

http://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/strike-force-lantle-set-up-in-2010-to-investigate-allegations-of-sexual-abuse-cover-up-in-catholic-church/story-fnii5yv4-1227267014821

Strike Force Lantle set up in 2010 to investigate allegations of sexual abuse cover up in Catholic Church

STRIKE Force Lantle was established five years ago and, until Tuesday, had drawn criticism for failing to deliver tangible results.

The strike force was set up in 2010 to investigate allegations that the Catholic Church had covered up sexual abuse committed by notorious former Hunter Valley priest Denis McAlinden.

McAlinden was charged with child sex offences in Western Australia in 1992 and was later acquitted, before the church allegedly took steps to remove him from Australia with a one-way plane ticket.

In 2011, victims’ groups branded the strike force a “disgrace”, alleging police had failed to properly investigate the McAlinden complaints.

NSW Police insisted that the strike force was not dormant and yesterday’s developments were the first major breakthrough after five years.

The strike force itself became the subject of a special commission of inquiry after Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox labelled it as being ‘‘set up to fail’’ by a ‘‘Catholic mafia’’ inside NSW Police.

Insp Fox said Strike Force Lantle was a “sham” and police were not interested in following up the allegations — claims rejected by the strike force.

In 2012, it was revealed the strike force had sent a brief of evidence to the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, which outlined allegations that two serving Catholic officials and one retired official had known of abuse but failed to act.

Archbishop Wilson is only the third Australian Catholic official to be charged with similar offences.

One case did not get beyond the committal stage, while the other official died before he could face trial.

Originally published as Strike force was set up five years ago