AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By JASON GORDON June 25, 2013
SENIOR Catholic clergy in the Hunter knew since 1995 that disgraced priest Denis McAlinden had sexually abused hundreds of victims in the Hunter, but failed to report him to police, an inquiry heard yesterday.
Newcastle police also had evidence of the cover-up for almost 12 months, and took little or no action against the Church.
The sensational evidence was dropped like a bomb before the Special Commission of Inquiry in Newcastle yesterday by Newcastle Herald journalist Joanne McCarthy.
Ms McCarthy revealed she had been given a copy of an internal Church report into Father McAlinden’s offending by a victim of the notorious priest.
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