Tasmania Police was offered evidence of child exploitation material regarding alleged paedophile Launceston General Hospital nurse James Geoffrey Griffin a year before he started working in the paediatric ward in 2001.
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No evidence could be found that it was fully investigated, however.
Griffin went on to allegedly abuse children in his role on ward 4K where he worked for 18 years, during which time the Tasmanian Health Service and police failed to fully investigate allegations about his conduct.
Commission of Inquiry counsel assisting Elizabeth Bennett SC gave an opening address as hearings continued in Launceston on Monday, summarising evidence that examines the health system's responses.
She detailed how, in September 2000, a man made a complaint to Tasmania Police after he purchased a computer from Griffin a year earlier. The computer allegedly contained child exploitation material and links to child pornography websites.
The man sent a follow-up email to police in March 2001, concerned that no contact had been made.
"I wrote to you a number of months ago regarding a registered nurse named Jim Griffin in the Launceston area who I believe is linked with internet pornography involving minors based on the contents of the computer he owned and sold to me," the email reads.
"I find it very distressing that I have heard nothing about any inquiries. I do not want to think he is working in a kids ward somewhere in Tasmania unsupervised, given what I have found."
One month earlier, Griffin had started working as a registered nurse at the LGH.
In September 2001 - a year after the man contacted police - Griffin started working on the LGH paediatric ward.
The Commission of Inquiry has been able to compel documentation from police and the THS, but Ms Bennett said there appeared to be no evidence that this complaint was fully followed up.
"We've been unable to determine the outcome of that complaint. This is an issue that will be properly ventilated through our examination of representatives of Tasmania Police in coming weeks, when we will have the benefit of their full evidence," she said.
It was the first of many occasions when authorities were made aware of allegations against Griffin, yet he continued to work in the LGH paediatric ward.
Allegations, complaints ignored over number of years
A first written warning of an alleged boundary breach with a child patient was made in 2004, an allegation of inappropriate kissing a child in 2005 was made, and a further boundary breach allegedly occurred in 2009.
A complaint had also been made that Griffin planned to "give away" a former patient at her wedding, after which he was invited to contribute to hospital policy on "professional boundaries".
In March 2009, Tasmania Police received another report about Griffin, this time while he was working as a medic on the Spirit of Tasmania. He was alleged to have taken upskirt photographs of young girls.
"A search of Griffin's house was carried out and the police report records that he cleared his browser history daily and had a large number of photos of young girls," Ms Bennett said.
"Griffin declined an interview and the matter was filed for intelligence.
"Once again we will return to the criminal justice system at a later stage, however there is no record of a formal notification by Tasmania Police to LGH at this time."
Allegations and complaints continued to be raised.
In 2017, Griffin was given his third written warning from the THS about his professional boundaries after allegedly touching a child and calling her pet names.
On each of the three occasions, he was told that if his behaviour did not change, further investigations would occur.
"I would appreciate working together to find a suitable provider of education and training in this area to address the behaviours raised through this complaint and support a positive change in your behaviour," the third letter reads.
"If there was no change in behaviour it may be necessary to refer the matter to the director of nursing or to an external forum for further investigation."
Not long after this, Griffin allegedly made inappropriate comments to a group of girls. A report was made on the incident management system SLRS, but was found to be unsubstantiated. None of the girls were spoken to.
After further allegations, police obtained a search warrant on Griffin's home in 2019, child exploitation material was allegedly found, he was suspended from work and charged.
Charges included eight counts of indecent assault, three counts related to child exploitation material and one count of sexual intercourse with a young person.
He was released on bail on October 3, 2019, and took his own life 15 days later.
Sexual assault support services:
- Sexual Assault Support Service (Tasmania): 1800 697 877
- Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
- Tasmania's Victims of Crime Service: 1300 300 238
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