AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Dan Cox
An advisor to the former bishop of the Catholic Church in the New South Wales Hunter Valley says he tried to contain child sexual abuse allegations against a priest so he did not hinder the police investigation.
Father James Saunders was the former bishop Michael Malone’s vicar general from 2001.
He has given evidence at the special commission that is investigating claims the Maitland-Newcastle diocese covered-up child sexual abuse by Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.
Fr Saunders shared the Belmont parish with McAlinden from about 1981 and said he was warned the priest “might be a difficult man”.
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