The former head of the police strike force Lantel has told a NSW Inquiry into child sexual abuse that he was made aware of crucial church documents in the office of the arch diocese of Sydney headed by Cardinal George Pell.
The special commission of inquiry is investigating alleged cover ups of clerical abuse by police and the Catholic Church in the Hunter region north of Sydney. In another development Police were also concerned about a settlement agreement between a victim and the Catholic Church. They have now got receipt of these documents. The agreement documents show the victim was required to repay his compensation payment plus 10% per annum if he took his case to the police for criminal action.
Father Guy Harcher who was charged with 22 offenses in the mid 1990's involving young boys in the Bathurst Region. He was subsequently moved to the Gresford Church in 1999 by the then Bishop of Maitland Father Malone of Newcastle. A police intelligence report which included information about Harcher was tendered as evidence. The report says the Police inquiry were very concerned with a compensation agreement of silence between the victim of Father Harcher and the Catholic Church.
"The church compensated one victim prior to the trial on signing a deed of release not to take civil or criminal action".The internal report says the police objected to these arrangements but the charges were withdrawn and the trial did not proceed.
The ABC has obtained a copy of the deed of release between the victim and the church and it reads as follows:
Father Guy Harcher was withdrawn from active priesthood in 2004 but he is still a priest of the Vincentian Order."In the event that the releaser commences or causes any criminal proceedings that forthwith upon commencement of any such action he will repay to the agreed trustees the agreed settlement sum together with interest at a rate of ten percent per annum.
Former detective chief inspector Brad Taylor of the Newcastle Command took the stand, he said he was told he should get a warrant to search Cardinal George Pell's officers for documents. This suggestion was made at a meeting in 2010 by Andrew Morrison SC the victims lawyer. The statement was a testimony of a key witness who was refusing to finish a statement because of being badly treated by one of the officers on strike force Lantel Detective Peter Fox. Morrison thinks with these documents they can proceed the case. I wish them luck.
I suggest the Catholic Church shut shop now, cease and desist from any type of dealings with children any and everywhere.
People continually send their children to Catholic Schools, why do they do this? Don't they care about their children. I feel that any parent sending a child to to a catholic school needs to be investigated by the Department for Children and have a case opened against them for neglect and abuse. Knowingly sending your child to an unsafe place must be regarded as neglect by the parent or parents or caregivers.
Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr
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