AUSTRALIA
Maitland Mercury
A man who was abused by a Hunter Valley priest as a child says he wants to know why it remained a secret “when so many people knew”.
Peter Gogarty fronted a special NSW commission of inquiry yesterday into how Catholic church officials and police handled child sex abuse allegations involving priests James Fletcher and Denis McAlinden.
During Mr Gogarty’s 15 minute submission, there were tears and some applause in the public gallery.
As a result of his experiences and through discussions with other victims, he said two questions commonly arose: “What would my life have been if I had never met him and why was there so much secrecy when so many people knew?”.
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