Inquiry's focus: just one priest

A NSW inquiry into the alleged cover-up of child abuse within the Catholic Church will focus solely on one former priest.

A NSW government inquiry into the alleged cover-up of child abuse within the Catholic Church will focus solely on abuse committed by one former priest.

By concentrating on claims about the late Denis McAlinden, the inquiry would not duplicate the work of the national royal commission into institutional responses to child abuse, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said.

The inquiry, to be led by one of the state's most senior prosecutors, Margaret Cunneen SC, was set up after a serving NSW detective, Peter Fox, claimed senior officers told him to stop investigating McAlinden.

Detective Chief Inspector Fox also said a network of priests in the NSW Hunter Valley conspired to conceal their abuse.

Ms Cunneen will be asked to consider Inspector Fox's claims that he was asked to stop investigating McAlinden and whether the Catholic Church obstructed that investigation.