AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By IAN KIRKWOOD July 17, 2013
A SENIOR diocese priest says he cannot independently recall saying that he wanted ‘‘to contain as much as possible’’ an allegation against then priest Jim Fletcher.
Father James Joseph Saunders, who held various positions under Bishop Leo Clarke and his successor Bishop Michael Malone, was giving evidence to the special commission of inquiry in Newcastle on Wednesday.
The commission heard from counsel assisting, Warwick Hunt, of an internal church email that included quotes attributed to Father Saunders, in relation to a ‘‘new allegation’’ against Fletcher, who was eventually convicted of child sexual abuse offences and died in jail.
Commissioner Margaret Cunneen asked Father Saunders whether, as the email said, he wanted to contain the matter as much as possible and preferred not to provide even a dot-point report at this time.
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