SQLFusion - Possible motive in ille settlement raises questions

Possible Motive In Illegal Settlement Raises Questions

AM 1220

January 16, 2009 — Motive for an illegal settlement is a hot topic at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. Assistant Crown attorney Lorne McConnery is sharing his thoughts about a $32,000 agreement between the local diocese and an alleged child sex abuse victim. One of the clauses in the settlement forced the alleged victim to withdraw his criminal complaint against a city priest. Two lawyers involved in the deal faced sex related charges years later but were never convicted. One died before trial and the other had his charges stayed. McConnery says it may look like the two were trying to stage a cover-up. Commissioner Normand Glaude tried to understand. (Hear audio clip below) Hearings begin at 9am this morning.

[ Transcript of audio clip:

COMMISSIONER: …if they were both accused of sexual assaults, as they were when you came in, you saw that as a possible motive for them to want to hush any kind of sexual abuse in Cornwall for fear that they may be exposed?

MR. McCONNERY: Yes.]

O.P.P. Project Truth Officers Were Superb-McConnery

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January 15, 2009 — The O.P.P. Project Truth team earned the respect of an Assistant Crown attorney during child sex abuse cases in Cornwall. Lorne McConnery told the Cornwall Public Inquiry former Detective Inspector Pat Hall was a very focused and driven investigator in the 1990s. McConnery says Hall was properly motivated but he did things differently. (Hear audio clip below) McConnery says the other officers were "superb". Meanwhile, former Crown Shelley Hallett has been taken off the witness list for this week because McConnery's testimony has lasted longer than expected. Hallett is scheduled to take the stand next week.

[Transcript of audio clip: “I'm aware for instance that he made a note that I reacted to a press conference for instance.I have no notes about my reaction to the press conference, but for some reason he put it in his notebook. That’s the kind of thing Pat Hall does. There’s nothing wrong with that. It was -- I didn’t find it to be deceitful, but now I might be asked about why did you react this way to this press conference? Why would that be in an officer’s notes?”]

Dunlop Plays Role In Stay Of Charges Against Priest-Inquiry

AM 1220

January 15, 2009 — It appears Perry Dunlop played a major role in the delay of a child sex abuse case involving a Cornwall priest. Assistant Crown attorney Lorne McConnery has spent the past two days testifying at the Cornwall Public Inquiry about the Father Charles MacDonald prosecution. Charges against MacDonald were stayed in 2002 after a judge ruled MacDonald's right to be tried in a reasonable time was violated. Court documents show the judge said Dunlop caused a large part of the delay because he failed to share information with police officers during the investigation. However, McConnery testified he did not believe the Crown's office could be responsible for Dunlop's actions. Dunlop is the former Cornwall police officer who did an off-hours investigation into child sex abuse allegations in the area. He served seven months behind bars last year for refusing to share his story at the inquiry. Meanwhile, McConnery says there is a failure in the courts when it comes to prioritizing trials that have been adjourned. (Hear audio clip below) Section 11(b) is part of the Charter of Rights that guarantees accused persons are tried within a reasonable amount of time. Hearings continue at 9:30 this morning.

[Transcript of audio clip: “We lose everything from run-of-the-mill everyday impaired drivings to very significant charges because if something is adjourned the court seems to have no way of dealing with something which is now Section 11(b) sensitive except to say it goes -- you know, it's been adjourned, so you put it at the bottom of your list.”