AUSTRALIA
The Australian
DAN BOX From: The Australian July 10, 2013
A DETECTIVE investigating a pedophile failed to identify existing police records that suggested the Catholic priest had a number of other victims and did not follow up a postal address in the man’s name, an inquiry has heard.
Despite learning the priest, Denis McAlinden, returned to Australia from the UK in 2002, the detective did not subsequently attempt to locate him using Centrelink or ATO records, or follow up a PO Box address registered in his name.
Three years later, the NSW special commission of inquiry has heard, a separate police investigation into McAlinden used Centrelink records to find him living in Western Australia, but detectives could not extradite the priest due to his health and he died shortly after.
Giving evidence to the inquiry this morning, Detective Senior Constable Jacqueline Flipo said she received a report in 2002 that McAlinden had sexually abused a young girl.
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