A former Cornwall police officer whose whistleblowing about sexual abuse allegations in the community eventually led to the launch of a public inquiry will likely face a contempt of court charge for refusing to testify at that inquiry.

Judge Normand Glaude, commissioner for the Cornwall public inquiry, said Tuesday that the commission will ask that a contempt charge be brought against key witness Perry Dunlop in divisional court.

The inquiry is probing the response of authorities in the 1990s to sexual abuse allegations against more than a dozen prominent members of the community starting in the 1950s and spanning decades.

Dunlop took the stand at the inquiry Tuesday and adopted the same position as he had at an earlier appearance in September.

In a prepared statement, Dunlop said he did not want to testify because he believes the inquiry is not about finding the truth.

"I feel it's a lynch mob out to do one thing — put all the focus onto me," he said. "And I don't want it there because I want it for the victims. That's what the point here is."

He added that he fears any lapses of memory he might have about events 14 years ago would be twisted around and used against him during cross-examination.

He already did the right thing when he brought a key sexual abuse complaint to the Children's Aid Society in 1993, he said, and there was no reason for him to subject himself to cross-examination again.

In response to Dunlop's statement, Glaude remained silent for 15 to 20 seconds and then dismissed Dunlop.

After that, he himself read a prepared statement expressing disappointment in Dunlop's decision.

Dunlop reported overheard discussion

He said he had given Dunlop every opportunity to participate in the inquiry, there was no good legal reason for Dunlop's refusal, and the commission would ask the divisional court for a contempt-of-court charge against Dunlop.

In arguing its case against Dunlop, counsel is asking for input from the OPP, the attorney general and other groups Dunlop says are trying to vilify him. If he is charged and found guilty, he could face penalties that include jail time.

Dunlop became a key player in the events leading up to inquiry after he overheard two police sergeants in 1993 discussing the Catholic church's agreement to pay a former altar boy $32,000. In exchange, the victim was dropping his complaint to police about sexual abuse.

Dunlop forwarded the complaint to the Children's Aid Society, which investigated it, and he was disciplined by the police force as a result. However, his continued work eventually led to four police investigations and charges being laid against 15 people.