The NSW Government has announced a Special Commission of Inquiry into the Catholic Church, following explosive allegations from a veteran police investigator. Detective Inspector Peter Fox told Lateline that his investigations were hindered by interference from within the Police force and by the Catholic Church.
EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The NSW Government has announced a special commission of inquiry into the Catholic Church, following explosive allegations from a veteran police investigator aired on Lateline last night.
Detective inspector Peter Fox told Lateline that his investigations were thwarted by a lack of co-operation from the Catholic Church, which he says lies and destroys evidence.
Today victims of sexual abuse continued to call for a full royal commission into the Catholic Church.
John Stewart reports.
JOHN STEWART REPORTER: Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox told Lateline that nothing short of a royal commission will stop the Catholic Church covering up for paedophile priests and hindering police investigations.
PETER FOX, CHIEF INSPECTOR, NSW POLICE: I have definite information that of some covering up certainly to a number of diocese bishops, it potentially goes even higher than that.
JOHN STEWART: Today, the NSW Premier resisted calls for a royal commission. Instead announcing a special commission of inquiry into the NSW police handling of abuse investigations involving the Catholic Church.
BARRY O'FARRELL, NSW PREMIER: What I am determined to do is ensure that these allegations are properly investigated and what I am determined to do is ensure those who have robbed young children of their futures are brought to justice.
JOHN STEWART: The inquiry will be led by deputy Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, who will have the powers of a royal commission to compel witnesses to give evidence.
However, it will only investigate the allegations raised by Inspector Fox and clarify why he was removed from police investigations into church abuse.
TONY JONES, LATELINE: If I understand this correctly, you're the person, the investigator who knows the most about this case. You are the person who has interviewed the whistleblower, the key witness. You have the statement in front of you that you think is dynamite and you are told by a superior to stand down from the case and give over your material, is that how it happened?
PETER FOX: Yes. That is it in a nutshell.
JOHN STEWART: Today, inspector Fox said he was disappointed with the limitations of the new inquiry.
PETER FOX: He is the Premier of NSW and those offences are occurring across NSW. I don't know why he would confine it geographically to one very bad area. Certainly the incidences of what we have seen has been horrendous here. I would hate to think that while the focus is here something is allowed to fester potentially elsewhere in the State.
JOHN STEWART: And a member of the NSW Government agrees. National Party MP Troy Grant is also calling for a royal commission. He claims that people in the Catholic Church are hindering police investigations.
Mr Grant is a former police officer who investigated a paedophile priest in the Newcastle diocese.
TROY GRANT, NSW NATIONAL PARTY: This is an issue that crosses State borders, it is an issue that is of national significance. Not one State, the Premier Barry O'Farrell doesn't own this challenge, this is one that is owned by us as a nation and it is time that we have a response that is equal to the need and that comes from a national royal commission, this can't sit with any one state otherwise the job will be half-arsed and it won't be done properly and the victims will suffer again.
JOHN STEWART: The bishop of the Newcastle Maitland diocese, William Wright, welcomed the new inquiry but is ambivalent about the need for a full royal commission.
WILLIAM WRIGHT, BISHOP OF MAITLAND, NEWCASTLE DIOCESE: I am happy that the public and those who know agitate that question of a national royal commission. I am not advocating it but again, things that inquiries that have some credibility with people that perhaps statements of the church don't these days, I am happy to see accepted facts put on the table and the situation clarified.
JOHN STEWART: Troy Grant says the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has failed to act and should resign.
TROY GRANT: If he doesn't have the ability or courage to do this, fall on your sword and step out of the way and let somebody who in who has the courage to take the church forward and make sure that the interests of the victims of child abuse is the first and only real consideration.
JOHN STEWART: Tonight, the arch diocese of Sydney hit back issuing a statement.
(EXTRACT FROM STATEMENT ON MISLEADING PUBLIC STATEMENTS, ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY)
"Mr Grant demonstrated a complete misunderstanding of church structures... He falsely suggested that the Cardinal was somehow involved n thwarting a police investigation in the Hunter Region but failed to point out Cardinal Pell has never had jurisdiction over clergy in the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle..."
JOHN STEWART: Last night Inspector Fox outlined in graphic detail one of the worst cases of abuse he had dealt with. A 12-year-old boy raped in a car by a priest.
PETER FOX: The boy wasn't aware at that stage that his anus had been torn and he started bleeding. He was screaming in agony on the seat and his knuckles were turning white and as the priest continued to thrust while he screamed, he said he focused on the St Christopher Cross on the dashboard and watched it swaying back and forward to try and take his focus off the pain.
JOHN STEWART: Patt Feenan is the mother of that boy.
PATT FEENAN, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I think a royal commission would satisfy a lot of people, that most of the dirt is out and it is about getting it out and moving forward. Until that happens, that trust that has been betrayed and abused will sit and fester.
JOHN STEWART: The NSW Premier will announce more details about the inquiry next week.
John Stewart, LateLine.
And Cardinal Pell's full response to MP Troy Grant's comments today will be available on our website.
Catholic Archdiocese Statement on Misleading Public Statements
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