2003

Thursday 15th May 2003
No Investigation by Ombudsman into Church*
Yesterday, Fr James Fletcher, a priest of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, was charged in the Maitland Local Court in relation to sexual assault matters.

Today, the Daily Telegraph carried a story on page 2 which asserted that the Church and Bishop Michael Malone are the subject of investigation by the NSW Ombudsman.

The Executive Director of the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations Mr Michael McDonald said this afternoon that, following discussions with the Ombudsman's Office today, he was advised that there is no investigation being carried out into this matter by the NSW Ombudsman at this time.

Mr McDonald stated that the NSW Ombudsman was notified of the allegation against Fr Fletcher and that it is their normal scrutiny of this matter which has been carried out. This does not mean that there is an investigation as claimed by the Daily Telegraph.

*NB. This media release was distributed by Catholic Communications Sydney for the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER).

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