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QUEENSLAND Police said no children live in the area where convicted child molester Dennis Ferguson has been taken following his release from custody. Ferguson, 60, was released last night after Brisbane District Court Judge Hugh Botting threw out child sex charges against him. He had been due to stand trial next week for allegedly sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl at her home in Dalby, west of Brisbane, in November 2005. Judge Botting granted a permanent stay on the proceedings based on evidence put before him by Ferguson's defence team that pre-trial publicity about his past convictions would make it difficult to find an objective jury. He also ruled the crown case was "tenuous" as it relied on the evidence of a child who appeared to confuse Ferguson with another convicted child sex offender who had been with him at the time. Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine will launch an appeal of Judge Botting's decision today. "In Queensland I believe that accused people do receive a fair trial," Mr Shine said yesterday. Queensland Police said late last night Ferguson had been taken to an address known to police. "Local police have checked the address and confirmed there are no children in the immediate vicinity," police said. "All appropriate action" will be taken by local police in this matter, police said. Premier Anna Bligh, who was briefed on the case by Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson this morning, said Ferguson was taken to an undisclosed location after his release. "On the advice I have from the police commissioner, I am satisfied that he has been placed in an appropriate setting," she said on ABC radio. "The advice I have is that he has been placed on an isolated property. He is not in a neighbourhood, he is not next to people's houses, he is not in a community near a school." Local police would be monitoring Ferguson's movements, while he was on the national register of child sex offenders. "They can't stop his movements, but can I say that it's public knowledge that Mr Ferguson's previously been convicted of serious offences that would qualify him to be on the national register of child sex abusers," Ms Bligh said. "People on this register can be monitored by police and if they behave in any way that would be of concern, as much as things like loitering in a park, police can take out an order against them." AAP (2-7-2008) |
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UPDATE: PREMIER Anna Bligh has warned against vigilante attacks against pedophile Dennis Ferguson following his release by Queensland's District Court. Ferguson, 60, was due to face trial next week on charges relating to alleged offences against a five-year-old girl in her Darling Downs home in November 2005. But Judge Hugh Botting said Ferguson was so notorious he could not get a fair trial and the charges were dropped. He was whisked away from the court in the back of an unmarked police car and taken to an "isolated property". The Premier has told ABC Radio this morning Ferguson had been placed in an "appropriate setting". "He is on an isolated property. He is not next to people's houses. He's not near a school or parks," Ms Bligh said. "Queensland police are aware of where he is. Local police are aware of Mr Ferguson and any vehicles he might have access to." Ms Bligh admitted there was no legal obligation to notify neighbours of Mr Ferguson's presence but he was required to inform police if he changed address. She said Attorney-General Kerry Shine would today lodge an urgent appeal against the part of the ruling that "challenged the view this person would not get a fair trial in Queensland". "I have been advised by the Attorney this is a very rare and exceptional case," Ms Bligh said. As well as the appeal against yesterday's ruling, Ms Bligh said the State Government would like at the wider implications of the judgement - hinting that law reform may be needed. "The Government is not only going to look at any immediate remedy but also to see if there's a longer term implication. It's something we need to look at in detail. It may be that we don't need to make any changes," she said. Attorney-General Kerry Shine last night contacted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to order them to appeal against the decision. He told ABC Radio this morning an appeal against the stay would be lodged with the Queensland Court of Appeal today, but he did not know when a decision would be made. Mr Shine said if the appeal was dismissed, it was unlikely he would seek to have the charges heard in another state. He resisted calls for Judge Botting to be stood down. He declined to comment on the strength of the case against Ferguson. "Look, just because a judge makes a decision that I, as Attorney-General, disagree with, doesn't mean that the judge should be sacked. What it means is that I should exercise my right under law to appeal that decision and appeal it to the Court of Appeal. That's the remedy," he said. Asked what he would say to Ferguson, should he be listening, Mr Shine said: "I would advise him that he should in all respects conform with the law and conform to the expectations of the community at large are, that is that he have no contact whatsoever with children." Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg last night called for the trial to proceed and lashed out at the Government, which had promised Ferguson would be watched while he lived in the community. "Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence promised Queenslanders in a press release at the time that Ferguson would be watched 24 hours a day," Mr Springborg said. "So she should be able to answer what he was doing to the judge in the trial, unless it was a lie that he was going to be watched all the time." The Crown alleged that in November 2005 Ferguson and a friend went to the Dalby home of a woman who had once worked with him in a door-to-door cleaning business and "created the opportunity" to be alone with her two daughters, then four and five. Judge Botting, who used powers of discretion available only in extraordinary situations to stay the proceedings, said the alleged victim's testimony had been unreliable. "The only evidence that directly implicates (Ferguson) was the evidence of the alleged victim. She was 51/2 years old at the time," he said. "The public interest in holding a trial does not warrant holding an unfair trial, bearing in mind the extraordinary nature of the public comment in this case (ranging) between irrational statements and vitriolic attacks featured for so long and often in the press. "In my view, the nature and extent of the reportage renders it impossible to conceive a dispassionate jury could be empanelled. "To pretend otherwise would be disingenuous." He said several high-profile politicians at all levels of government had mentioned the matter in the public forum The Courier Mail (2-7-2008) Robyn Ironside/ Jason Gregory/ Rosemary Odgers |
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A RUNAWAY teenage ward of the state who spent weeks in the same house as convicted pedophile Dennis Ferguson had been let down by the system, a leading child advocate said today. But Bravehearts chief executive Hetty Johnston did not believe Queensland Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds should shoulder the blame. Instead, she called for the Corrective Services Department to establish a more comprehensive monitoring system for pedophiles released from prison. The department removed the 17-year-old girl from the house in Miles, western Queensland, on November 10, when police charged Ferguson, 57, with the indecent assault of two girls, aged 4 and 5. The runaway had a history of absconding from her foster care placements and was removed by the Queensland Child Safety Department as soon as the situation was known. "It's about time we started protecting our children from people like Ferguson and find better ways to monitor pedophiles in the community," she said. "There has been a breakdown in the system but I don't think the minister should be held responsible." Child Safety Department director-general Robin Sullivan told The Australian newspaper the teenager was found living in the house with her aunt and uncle, who were not registered carers with the department. "It was discovered that the girl went to live with her aunt and uncle, with the knowledge of her mother," she said. "This is the residence from which the Department of Child Safety removed her. "As soon as the department became aware of the situation involving Dennis Ferguson, it acted immediately, and as soon as it located the girl, she was removed." http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au (21-12-2005) |
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ONE of Australia’s most notorious convicted paedophiles, Dennis Ferguson, is back in the region, this time believed to be living on the outskirts of Roma. Concerned Roma residents reported Ferguson is living in Two Mile Lane. Since his release from a New South Wales jail last year, Ferguson has been chased out of Murgon and Ipswich after earlier trying to rent a house in Toowoomba. He is believed to have moved to Roma last week after residing 5km from Miles in past weeks. The shock news for the Roma community came as around 18,000 visitors were making their way to the town for the annual Easter in the Country festival. Roma parent Marion Young said all parents in the district should be aware that this man was living among them. Mrs Young said people should watch their children closely and be more observant of where they were going and when they were coming home. Everyone should be taking extra precautions, she told The Western Star in Roma. Roma Mayor Bruce Garvie said he could not confirm that Dennis Ferguson was in the Roma community. Cr Garvie said Ferguson was being handled and monitored by the relative people under the Child Protection Offender Reporting Act. "While it would be unsavoury to have this man in the community, I am sure if he were here that the local police would be keeping an eye on him," he said. "There is little I can do as mayor; however, I will continue to monitor the situation and talk to the local police. "If people aren’t happy with this, they should talk to the politicians and get the laws changed." Cr Garvie encouraged parents to keep a watchful eye on their children at all times. Roma District Officer Inspector Steve Wardrope said police were not at liberty to either confirm or deny Ferguson’s whereabouts. AAP (26-3-2005) |
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CONVICTED child rapist Dennis Ferguson has lodged a stalking complaint with police after angry protesters hounded him out of two Queensland homes. A police spokeswoman today confirmed police were investigating the complaint. She said Ferguson, who placed himself in voluntary police custody on Thursday, made the complaint after protesters hounded him out of two residences in 24 hours earlier this week. The notorious paedophile was forced out of his Murgon home, north west of Brisbane on Tuesday after the community outed his whereabouts. He sought shelter in Ipswich - 250km away - only to be forced out of a home there less than a day later. The Queensland Government said Ferguson sought police protection after vigilante groups reportedly threatened to kill him and burn his house down. The spokeswoman said Ferguson was no longer in voluntary police custody. Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper today said it was believed Ferguson was back in the community and staying in an inner-suburban boarding house, described as being located in an industrial area. Ferguson was released from prison in January 2003 after serving a 14-year term for raping three children. Daily Telegraph (5-2-2005) |
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THE Queensland Nationals have been accused of playing redneck politics for inciting communities to protest outside any place where notorious paedophile Dennis Ferguson resides. Nationals deputy leader Jeff Seeney yesterday urged "every single community" where Ferguson set foot to protest to ensure the Queensland government strengthens its pedophile laws. Ferguson has been run out of the south-east Queensland town of Murgon and city of Ipswich – about 1800km apart – in the past two days. Vigilante groups had targeted his home, throwing rocks on the roof, yelling, holding placards and banging on the side of the house. He is believed to be in hiding under the care of a church community group. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie accused Mr Seeney of "playing redneck politics" and inciting dangerous behaviour. "I think that the National Party would do and say anything to try and win a vote," Mr Beattie said. "What they are doing is following a redneck strategy. I don't believe that is in the best interests of Queensland." Mr Beattie again appealed to people not to take the law into their own hands. "This is a job for the police," he said. "We need to take a deep breath. I remain deeply concerned that a Dennis Ferguson lookalike – an innocent person – may end up being bashed." The Liberal Party moved to distance itself from the stance of its former coalition partner. "Mr Seeney's suggestion to form a mob will not protect one single child and is not supported in any way by the Liberal Party," deputy leader Bruce Flegg said. But Nationals leader Lawrence Springborg stood by his deputy, rejecting Mr Beattie's redneck criticisms. "The Nationals are standing up for the children of Queensland, and we are standing up for the right of communities to protest against stupid laws," Mr Springborg said. "Nobody in their right mind can argue that it is sensible to have laws that allow a convicted paedophile to locate next to a childcare centre when they are released from jail." Mr Springborg said special residential accommodation areas were needed for at-risk pedophiles, along similar lines to those recently introduced in the UK. Ferguson was released from prison in January 2003 after serving a 14 year term for raping three children. He was jailed in New South Wales last year after failing to tell police he had taken a job that could have given him access to children. Prisoner advocacy group Justice Action said it was prepared to take responsibility for Ferguson's future behaviour through its mentoring system and offered him community housing. AAP 03-2-2005 |
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Convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson has been run out of town just days after renting a house at Murgon in south-eastern Queensland. The community became concerned after it was revealed Mr Ferguson was living within a block of a child care centre. A group of residents has been protesting outside the house for much of the day. Murgon Mayor Warren Hubner says Mr Ferguson is not welcome in the small town. "The landlord wanted him out of his premises and there was a group gathering on the footpath outside," he said. "Police escorted him out of those premises and he's at the police station at the present time. "I believe the gentlemen is now making arrangements for accommodation outside of our region." Mr Hubner says the community was not willing to put out the welcome mat. "The place where he picked up residence was only about 200 metres down the street from a child care centre, which I believe was totally inappropriate," he said. www.abc.net (1-2-2005) |
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ONE of Queensland's most notorious pedophiles will again be released from Jail this week amid increasing support for a national summit on child abuse. Dennis Raymond Ferguson, 55, will finish his 15-month stint in a New South Wales jail for failing to tell police about a new job which may have given him access to children. Ferguson had previously served a 14-year jail term in Queensland for attacking three young children, but failed to complete a rehabilitation program or even admit his crimes. The public outcry over Ferguson's release in January last year prompted Attorney-General Rod Welford to devise means of keeping dangerous sex offenders in jail indefinitely. Mr Welford introduced the so-called Pardon laws - named after their first target, serial rapist Robert John Fardon - but could do nothing to keep Ferguson in Jail. When Ferguson walks free this week, he will be on sex offender registers and must keep notifying police of his place of residence and employment. Premier Peter Beattie, unaware of any move by Ferguson to return to Queensland, said bail conditions and registers existed to protect people against recidivist sex offenders. Mr Beattie said Ferguson should not ignore his legal obligations and "he'll keep going back to jail if he keeps doing it". Mr Beattie threw his support behind NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney's call for a national summit on child abuse, saying Queensland would be willing to take part. "As you know, Queensland has gone to hell and back in this area," Mr Beattie said. "We've had the (Crime and Misconduct Commission) examination of our record and we've reorganised all our departments. "In essence, Queensland probably leads Australia with dealing with these issues now." Mr Moroney said community and government agencies needed to confront child abuse, realise the magnitude of the problem and look at the support being provided to victims. He made the comments as it emerged NSW police had referred 400 charges against 130 offenders in less than a year. "I think this is just the tip of the iceberg," Mr Moroney said. "This is not an issue we can any longer speak about in hushed tones or behind closed doors. We cannot pretend it is not there." Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said state and territory authorities were keen to share information and he would be interested to see how a summit could improve that process. "There is always opportunity to do things better than we are doing now," Mr Atkinson said. Western Australia's Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan backed Mr Moroney, as did Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon. "Young people who are victims of abuse suffer enormously," Ms Nixon said. "They're the ones who often end up in our criminal justice system (and) end up with a great deal of mental illness as well. So if we can find ways to prevent it then we'd be a mile in front." The Courier Mail (13-12-2004) Sean Parnell |
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Convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson is back behind bars after he allegedly failed to tell police of a new job which may have brought him into contact with children. Ferguson, 55, walked free from a Queensland prison in January after serving a 15-year term for sexually attacking three children. On Wednesday, he was refused bail after a Sydney court was told he had gone to a school and allegedly represented a company whose charter was distributing cleaning products to groups needing to raise funds. NSW Police arrested Ferguson on a charge of failing to comply with reporting conditions (Child Protection Offenders' Registration), which includes an obligation he inform police of employment. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' prison and a fine of up to $11,000. In a statement of facts tendered to Parramatta Local Court, it was alleged Ferguson went to Parramatta Public School on August 13 and delivered a pamphlet for the company. Police prosecutor Rob Baillie alleged Ferguson did not want police to know he had the job - which involved marketing products to schools, charities and other groups. However, defence counsel Mark Gunning told the court his client maintained he was not employed by the company, and therefore did not inform police. Ferguson had discussed the possibility of becoming an independent contractor with the company, Mr Gunning added. He told the court his client had received death threats in Queensland and had moved to Sydney where, within three days of arriving on May 26, he had opened a telephone account and a post office box in the name of the company. However, his client had done this because he feared further threats if he used his own name. During an application for bail, Mr Gunning said his client was prepared to stay away from schools and could live with his Sydney-based mother. However, Magistrate Graham Johnson refused bail, after saying people involved in sex offences against children are often repeat offenders. "It may be a coincidence he went to a public school, but it is a matter of concern," Mr Johnson said. He added it was not an easy task weighing the conflicting interests of community safety and Ferguson's general right to liberty. However, on this occasion it was the magistrate's view protection of the community should prevail. Ferguson, whose counsel had applied for a suppression order due to the convicted paedophile's fear of threats, was remanded in custody to face the same court on Thursday. Outside court, Child Protection squad Chief Inspector Bob Sullivan said Ferguson had been under police observation since his arrival in NSW. "When he came to NSW, as a person we consider to be possibly a high risk offender, he's somebody that we began monitoring," Insp Sullivan said. The Bulletin (17-9-2003) |
Second 'Redneck' Accusation (4-2-2005)
No Go Zone Planned For Paeodphiles (3-2-2005)
Residents Hound Pedophile (2-2-2005)
Deviant Hidden By Law (1-2-2005)
Predator Holidays In Bundy (31-1-2005)
Dutton Calls For State Attorney-General To Be Sackes Over Ferguson (9-1-2003)
Jail May Be The Only Place Child Rapist Will Find Peace And Quiet (16-12-2004)
Paedophile Walks Free Again (15-12-2004)
Paedophile Ferguson arrives in Brisbane (Dec 2004)
Court Upholds Sex Offender Law (2-10-2004)
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