Helen Keevers was the manager of Zimmerman House, which was set up to
make it easier for abuse victims to come forward.
She has given
evidence at the Special Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to
the Police investigation of certain child sexual abuse allegations in
the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
She told the Special Commission it 'was not particularly respectful
but the priests' confidential files were called the bad files.'
Ms Keevers said the former Bishop, Michael Malone, made it clear she
could have access to any relevant documents she wanted, and he wrote a
letter to Strike Force detectives stating they did not need a warrant
and were welcome in the diocese at any time.
She said it was when she started digging in the diocesan archives
that she found 'much more information and further evidence' against
priests. She described former priest Denis McAlinden's files as 'three
or four inches thick.'
Helen Keevers said during her four years as manager of Zimmerman
House, her team investigated seven members of clergy, four of which
resulted in criminal prosecution.
She said police were given complete
access to diocesan files, but once the unit was established her team
were forever 'playing catch-up' as they were 'inundated with
complaints.'