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Joanne McCarthy (journalist)

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Joanne Maree Therese McCarthy is an Australian journalist.[1][2]

Through an extensive series of reports for The Newcastle Herald, McCarthy is widely considered [by whom?] to have played a role in initiating the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.[3][4][5][6]

The series of stories detailed incidents of historic sexual abuse of children within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, and attempts by the church at covering up the allegations of abuse while protecting the Catholic priests who were accused of abusing children.[7]

McCarthy's series of articles commenced in 2006 when she received a phone call from a local reader who asked why the conviction of priest John Denham[8], who was still working with the church, had never been covered by the local media.[7] This prompted McCarthy to begin an ongoing investigation, beginning with the story of Denham[9] which uncovered numerous cases of children being abused by priests across the Hunter Region, and subsequent cover-ups by the church including Patrick Cotter's cover-up of crimes perpetrated by Vince Ryan.[10][11]

McCarthy also found the church had attempted to cover-up abuse allegedly committed by Denis McAlinden, who had died in 2005 without being successfully prosecuted.[7][12] McCarthy's reporting about McAlinden prompted the church to issue an apology for instances of abuse by church personnel with an admission that the church had already been cooperating with authorities regarding McAlinden "for some time".[13]

Following the suicide of abuse victim John Pirona in 2012[14], McCarthy wrote an opinion piece where she said "there will be a royal commission because there must be", which prompted editor Chad Watson and McCarthy to spearhead the newspaper's "Shine the Light" campaign in an attempt for a royal commission to be held, to seek justice for the victims.[15][7] Following a "Shine the Light" rally, which was attended by Detective Chief Inspecter Peter Fox[16][17], Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a royal commission would be created.[18][7] Gillard's final act as Prime Minister in 2013 was to write a letter to McCarthy thanking her for the work she had done.[19]

For her coverage on local historic child sex abuse cases within the Catholic Church, McCarthy won the 2013 Gold Walkley.[20]

McCarthy has said she identifies with the movie Spotlight due to the similarities between her work and that of the investigative journalists at The Boston Globe who uncovered the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston sex abuse scandal.[21][22]

Following a brief period of working as a nurse at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, McCarthy began her journalism career with a cadetship at the Gosford Star in 1980, before she moved to the Central Coast Express Advocate.[7] In 2002, she joined The Newcastle Herald.[7] McCarthy graduated from Henry Kendall High School in 1977.[7] The oldest of 11 children, McCarthy grew up in a Catholic family.[7]

References

  1. ^ (1 August 1980), 7162D: McCarthy, Joanne Maree Therese (journalist), Gosford, page 32, New South Wales electoral roll: District of Robertson; Subdivision of Gosford, Australian Electoral Commission. Accessed 12 April 2019.
  2. ^ Mottram, Linda (3 July 2018) Journalist Joanne McCarthy attends Archbishop's sentencing, PM, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ Caro, Jane (8 March 2017) Joanne McCarthy: the reporter who sparked a Royal Commission, Conversations, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. ^ Kennedy, Paul (12 December 2017) Undeniable: The advocates and agitators who fought for justice – Joanne McCarthy: Uncovering devastating secrets, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ Browne, Rachel (25 August 2014) Dogged journalist would not walk away from abuse victims, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  6. ^ (13 October 2014) Joanne McCarthy is Fairfax Media's 2014 Woman of the Year, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i (27 September 2014) Before The Storm, Australian Story, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (11 October 2018) The former Catholic priest whose crimes were the catalyst for a royal commission is guilty again, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. ^ (10 June 2006) Pedophile priest John Denham still working, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  10. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (22 September 2007) Cotter's cover-up allowed Ryan to prey on boys for 17 years, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  11. ^ Marchese, David (2 September 2016) Hunter Catholic diocese was hopeful paedophile priest could be 'cured', royal commission hears, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  12. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (29 September 2007) Priest left arrest warrant, decades of accusations, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  13. ^ (6 October 2007) Diocese apology to McAlinden victims, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  14. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (27 July 2012) Abuse victim's last sad words, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  15. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (3 August 2012) 'There will be a royal commission because there must be', The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  16. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (7 November 2012) Top cop attacks Catholic church, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  17. ^ Smith, Suzanne (8 November 2012) Detective challenges O'Farrell over Catholic abuse claims, Lateline, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  18. ^ Cullen, Simon (12 November 2012) Gillard launches royal commission into child abuse, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  19. ^ Kirkwood, Ian; McCarthy, Joanne (13 September 2013) PM's letter to Herald journalist Joanne McCarthy, The Newcastle Herald, Nine Entertainment Co.. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  20. ^ (29 November 2013) Reluctant journalist wins top gong, SBS News, Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  21. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (26 February 2016) The point in the film Spotlight that had me in tears, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  22. ^ (18 February 2016) The Australian journalist who turned the spotlight on the Catholic Church, RN Afternoons, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
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