AUSTRALIA
The Australian
DAN BOX From: The Australian May 08, 2013
THE detective at the centre of a NSW inquiry into child abuse within the Catholic church disobeyed orders not to contact journalists or witnesses after a confidential police investigation was launched into the alleged cover-up of these crimes.
The NSW Special Commission of Inquiry yesterday heard that Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox sent an email to Newcastle-based journalist Joanne McCarthy containing details of this inquiry in December 2010, just hours after being told not to contact her.
This and other emails between the two included the identity of potential witnesses, as well as Detective Fox’s personal reaction to being told he would play no part in the investigation.
“The pricks can shove it . . . the whole thing stinks and they can bit (sic) me,” he wrote, the inquiry heard. He told the inquiry he subsequently attempted to deceive his bosses about his relationship with Ms McCarthy.
He also remained in contact with potential witnesses, despite being told contact with these people would be made by detectives assigned to an existing police strike force carrying out the investigation.
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