AUSTRALIA
7 News
Paul Maguire, AAP
July 11, 2013
A Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing a boy was given control of a second parish four months after a police investigation had begun.
The appointment of Branxton’s Father James Fletcher to also run the Lochinvar parish in October 2002 was one of numerous regrets Bishop Michael Malone expressed to a special NSW commission of inquiry on Thursday.
When asked by a barrister assisting the commission, Julia Lonergan, why Fr Fletcher was appointed to a parish that had a primary school and high school whose students had no knowledge of the allegations, Bishop Malone answered: “We had no-one else to put in.
“So it was better to appoint someone accused of paedophilia than no-one at all?” Ms Lonergan asked.
“I take your point,” Bishop Malone responded.
“I have a lot of regrets about this.
“In hindsight I wish I’d have acted with more determination in standing him aside and not informing him (Fr Fletcher that the police investigation was underway).
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