Friday, November 09, 2012

Inquiry into police sex crime 'cover-up' as Catholic church scandal widens

A SPECIAL Commission of Inquiry will be held into allegations that police mishandled child sexual abuse investigations into the Catholic Church in the Hunter, Premier Barry O'Farrell announced yesterday. 
 
It comes after serving police officer Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox alleged he was taken off Catholic paedophilia investigations after being outspoken, and that senior church figures covered up serious sexual abuse allegations for decades.

After resisting calls for a royal commission into the church for months, Mr O'Farrell acted following an open letter from Insp Fox.

But the Premier gave no guarantees the inquiry would hold public hearings - and Insp Fox and the Opposition last night called for a much broader inquiry.

Insp Fox said a special commission alone was a slap in the face to victims.

Mr O'Farrell's move came after Insp Fox gave an emotional interview on ABC's Lateline on Thursday, when he alleged: "An archbishop, a bishop and a priest are implicated in cover-up.

"There's something very wrong when you have so many paedophile priests operating in such a small area for such an extended period of time with immunity."

Yesterday Insp Fox claimed there had been an attempt to muzzle him.

"I was called by a superior reminding me of the NSW Police policy not to talk to the media," Insp Fox said.

Former police colleague and now Nationals MP Troy Grant last night said there needed to be a national royal commission into abuse in the Catholic Church and said Cardinal George Pell should quit his position as head of the church in Australia, unless he took appropriate action.

"It's unacceptable for him to remain at the head of the Catholic church while he continues to fail the victims of sexual abuse by priests," Mr Grant said.

Insp Fox alleged he was taken off an investigation into the abuse of up to 80 young girls in the '50s and '60s by former Catholic priest Denis McAlinden - and of all investigations concerning the Catholic church in 2010.

McAlinden died in 2005.

Police last night said Insp Fox had been removed from investigations only because the taskforce was being run in another command area.

Police also said they believed his allegations of church cover-ups had been investigated thoroughly and "as a whole the church has co-operated with police".

Catholic Bishop Bill Wright, from the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, said he appreciated the "anger and frustration" of Insp Fox but "that anger and frustration ... does not entitle him to remain unchallenged when he makes statements about the present-day situation that are simply not correct".

The special commission will be headed by Margaret Cunneen SC.

Mr O'Farrell argued it would have all the powers of a royal commission, including the ability to subpoena documents and compel witnesses, but Ms Cunneen would be asked not to delve into matters which might jeopardise police investigations.

"Concerns have been raised about both the police handling of investigations as well as possible interference by the church in those investigations," Mr O'Farrell said.

"These matters have been raised by a senior serving officer and deserve to be fully investigated."

Insp Fox said it was not enough. "I really would have hoped for a full royal commission," he said.

He said he had already seen how such an inquiry could be little more than a bureaucratic cover-up.

Insp Fox said the inquiry should not be restricted to the Hunter.

"The church moves these offenders from parish to parish. It's a Band-Aid approach to look at one small area."