A Hunter priest has blamed the effects of general anaesthetic for his significant memory loss in relation to events surrounding paedophilia within the Maitland-Newcastle diocese.
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Former Vicar General Father William Burston said he was unable to remember in answer to dozens of questions during cross-examination at the special commission of inquiry into alleged sexual abuse cover-ups by the Catholic church.
Father Burston could not assist the inquiry with answers about events, letters, church media releases and conversations regarding paedophile priests Denis McAlinden and James Fletcher throughout the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, up until 2004.
To more than 30 questions he replied “I do not recall” or “I do not remember”.
The priest blamed his self-diagnosed extensive memory loss on the administration of 10 general anaesthetics between 2004 and 2012. He also revealed he was not being treated by a doctor.
Counsel assisting the inquiry, David Kell, claimed Father Burston was being deliberately selective with his memory. The priest denied the suggestion and told the inquiry his entire memory was affected “full stop”, not just matters surrounding the diocese.
However, when Mr Kell suggested that the priest’s memory was precise on some aspects and not on others, Father Burston agreed.
Special Commissioner Margaret Cunneen interjected when the priest said he could not remember when, where or who first told him of the allegations against McAlinden.
“Wouldn’t such a terrible thing be seared upon your brain forever?” Ms Cunneen asked.
Father Burston explained that McAlinden was not close to him, whereas he remembered being first told about the allegations against Fletcher because he had been a friend since 1971.
Father Burston said that on a pastoral visit to Fletcher he saw the police brief of evidence and told him: “This could be believed.”
He said Fletcher changed the
subject and denied the victim ever stayed at the presbytery – Father Burston said he knew that was not true.
He said he could not remember a 2003 conversation with John Davoren of the church’s professional standards office in which he was advised that Fletcher be stood down.
Mr Kell put it to Father Burston that he told Mr Davoren one of Fletcher’s victims had shown “bizarre behaviour” for some years and the matter was another symptom of his “psychological disturbance”.
Mr Kell asked Father Burston if that was his view in 2003, he replied: “I can’t answer that.”
