AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
May 30, 2014
Matt Carr
Three of four reports from the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry’s investigation into sexual abuse have been released on Friday, with a fourth remaining confidential “until any potential criminal proceedings have been determined”.
The special commission presented its report to NSW Governor Marie Bashir on Friday after extensive hearings in 2013.
The inquiry covered conduct by clergy, particularly in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, over knowledge of child sexual abuse by priests Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher.
The special commission explored “the extent to which those officials facilitated, assisted or otherwise hindered or obstructed” police investigations.
It also explored senior police’s decision in December 2010 that Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox halt investigations into certain matters relating to the two priests.
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