Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Nun tipped off priest under investigation, MP claims

Former police officer and National Party MP Troy Grant (pictured) has made explosive claims about cover-ups of child sex abuse within the Catholic church, including deliberate actions by a nun to tip off a paedophile priest, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Speaking to media after giving evidence at a special commission of inquiry in Newcastle yesterday, Mr Grant said that while he never encountered a "Catholic mafia" within the police force, there was certainly collusion within the clergy to hide serious sex offences.

"There were individuals who acted completely inappropriately, commensurate with their pastoral care. I believe they acted illegally," he said.

Those people allegedly included a nun who Mr Grant claimed tipped off a priest, later convicted of child sex offences, the night before he was due to be interviewed by police.

He said he had evidence of senior clergy cover-ups dating back as far as 1974.

"Their level of culpability has never been tested in the court system, they've never been questioned or put before their peers to answer for what they did," he said.

"What they did in 1974, 1975, 1981 and then 1995 meant that a lot of (church abuse) victims need not have been victims - that's where the tragedy is."

Mr Grant will provide further evidence to the commission of inquiry when it addresses claims of church cover-ups next month.

Earlier today, MR Grant denied using the phrase "Catholic mafia" to describe senior police covering up child sex abuse within the church.

Police whistleblower Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox told a special commission of inquiry in Newcastle on Monday that Mr Grant had used the phrase in 2002 or 2003 while discussing problems he allegedly encountered with investigating church-related abuse.