AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Dan Cox
A NSW inquiry has heard a paedophile priest was allowed to continue running private reading classes at Hunter Valley Catholic schools despite being accused of child sexual abuse.
The special commission of inquiry at Newcastle Supreme Court is investigating whistleblower police officer Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox’s claims the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese covered up abuse by two priests, James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.
Inspector Fox has told the commission that in 2003, the bishop of Maitland-Newcastle at the time, Michael Malone, “defied his suggestion” to have Fletcher stood down as a priest while the abuse investigation was underway.
Inspector Fox said he strongly suggested the priest have minimal contact with children by moving him to a diocesan office job.
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