NSW cops 'wanted to stop abuse probe' A special inquiry has heard factions in the NSW police force wanted to prevent a full investigation of alleged sex abuse by priests in the Hunter region, but another witness denied speaking of a "Catholic mafia" in the force. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox told Special Commissioner Margaret Cunneen he formed the belief that parts of the NSW force didn't want the abuse allegations probed in his investigations, which involved possibly hundreds of victims, over several years to December 2010. This concern led him to lie about his investigations to colleagues and breach a direction not to speak to journalists, he told the special commission of inquiry in Newcastle on Wednesday. It also made him reluctant to stop investigating and hand over his files, he said. Inspector Fox said he had also unearthed links between alleged abuse by priests in the Hunter Valley and priests in other parts of the state. Earlier on Wednesday, state MP and former police officer Troy Grant said obstruction of investigations came from church leaders, not police. The Nationals MP for Dubbo denied that when he was a policeman investigating sex abuse in 1995 he had told Insp Fox that there was a "Catholic mafia" in the police force. He said "Catholic mafia" was not a phrase he had heard, let alone one he had used in conversations with Insp Fox. Mr Grant said Maitland-Newcastle diocese Bishop Michael Malone, Monsignor Patrick Cotter, Sister Evelyn Woodward and Father Brian Lucas were some of the people he had discussed with Insp Fox in relation to helping and hindering investigations. Ms Cunneen placed a non-publication order on medical information involving a retired police officer and two serving officers and will decide tomorrow whether one of them will be excused from giving evidence to the inquiry. The inquiry resumes on Thursday.