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THE Sunday Herald Sun has launched legal action to obtain the right to reveal the identity of a soon-to-be-released serial sex monster. Authorities have placed a gag on publishing the fiend's image or name despite expert opinion he is not rehabilitated and will offend again. The newspaper has applied to challenge the gag in the County Court to lift the cloak of anonymity granted to one of Victoria's worst sex attackers. Sunday Herald Sun editor Simon Pristel said the Victorian public deserved to be heard on this vital matter of public safety. "We cannot sit by and let a decision go unchallenged that puts the protection of a sex fiend ahead of the public's right to know," Mr Pristel said. The legal move comes as police say they fear the serial pedophile, rapist and fetishist will return to his stalking grounds of Melbourne's eastern suburbs when released. The Sunday Herald Sun has also unearthed four separate reports by mental health experts indicating the fiend had little prospect of reform. More recent reports on his psychiatric state and likelihood of rehabilitation have been made secret by the gag. The gag also suppresses details of the serial pedophile and rapist's release. The gag - agreed between the Government and the offender's lawyer and approved by the County Court - bans the Sunday Herald Sun naming the offender. A senior police officer revealed the rapist had always returned to the same area of Melbourne. The officer, who would not be named, said the man was jailed after dozens of attacks on women and girls in the inner east. "For his next string of crimes involving schoolgirls he returned to the same general area - it's where he feels comfortable," the officer said. Some police members feared the offender - who operated on foot - could slip any potential post-release surveillance and return to his familiar eastern haunts. "It is just a matter of time," the officer said. An invitation to Attorney-General Rob Hulls and Police Minister Bob Cameron to explain why laws allowed court gags on the identities of serial offenders was refused. A Justice Department spokeswoman said victims of violent crimes could apply to be placed on the Victims Register to be advised about offenders' sentencing and release. People can call the Victims Register Co-ordinator on 1800 819 817 or visit www.justice.vic.gov.au. Sunday Herald Sun (11-5-2008) Liam Houlihan Letter From The Editor- Sunday Herlad Sun- 11-5-2008 This newspaper believes in your democratic right to have full access to information that could protect you and your children. That is why, on your behalf, we have appealed to the County Court for permission to name and publish a photograph of a convicted serial pedophile and rapist soon to be released from jail. The court this month suppressed the identity of the multiple sex offender, whom experts fear will strike again. The gag means you will not know if this predator is to live in your neighbourhood once he is released. We find that an unacceptable attack on two basic principles- freedom of media to report the facts and the public's right to know them. Those freedoms cannot be taken for granted. When they are in peril we must fight to ensure balance is restored. The extraordinary reader reaction to our story last Sunday about the court gag is clear evidence of the overwhelming public wish to be informed about the identity and whereabouts of the soon-to-be released sex criminal. We are committed to revealing information that is of public concern. And we will continue to pursue our right to do so. We believe that it is our socail responsibility. |
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A COURT has ruled the identity of a serial sex monster, who will walk from jail within weeks and who experts predict will reoffend, be hidden from the public. The serial-offender pedophile and rapist staged a decades-long reign of terror, abuse and rape against Melbourne women and girls. Senior police believe the man is behind up to 200 unsolved sex attacks and "makes Mr Baldy look like a girl scout". The protected man has committed multiple offences on each prior release from prison. But authorities decided the rapist would have a court-ordered cloak of anonymity while the public is kept in the dark about who and where he is. The County Court gag order prevents the Sunday Herald Sun naming the man or publishing his picture. Assessment reports likely to shed light on his mental status and likelihood to reoffend have also been rendered secret by Judge Lisa Hannan's gag. But at a previous sentencing of the prisoner, a judge stated he was resistant to reform. A psychiatrist then warned if released, the man would simply add to his list of victims. Police, child advocates and school representatives have described the gag on identifying the man as dangerous. And the Opposition said it was uncomfortable with the hidden justice aspect of the order. One spate of offences by the man involved trespassing on the grounds of private girls' schools. Victorian Principals Association president Fred Ackerman said the interests of children, students and the community had to be given preference over an individual's. "Even if there's a likelihood of them offending or behaving inappropriately or having an attraction to students, and therefore school premises, the constraints that are needed take on a more urgent focus," Mr Ackerman said. "It is our responsibility . . . to ensure at all times the absolute wellbeing of young people -- and there is no margin for error." The founder of anti-child sex abuse group Child Wise, Bernadette McMenamin, said people should be worried by the man's release and the surrounding secrecy. "It's a real concern that he is protected to this extent. Certainly the community is not convinced this guy is safe," Ms McMenamin said. "Why is he getting out? I just don't think communities are safe when individuals like this are released." And police members are staggered they will once more have to try to protect the public from the serial menace. A senior Victorian police officer, who would not be named, told the Sunday Herald Sun that police believed the man was responsible for as many as 200 sex assaults. Another, Det-Sgt Paul Tierney, who investigated the rapist over 21 years, confirmed other alleged victims had come forward but were unwilling to go to trial. "There are other matters that we believe (he) is responsible for," he said, but would not reveal how many cases. "He's a recidivist serial sex offender. He's one of the higher percentage of offenders given his recidivism. "You would see if you looked at his early history quite a bit of violence," he said. The gag orders could be lifted once the prisoner has been released or could remain in force. "We are uncomfortable with the gag order given the fact we're supposed to live in an open society where justice is not only done, but seen to be done," said Opposition justice spokesman Andrew McIntosh. A Government spokeswoman refused to comment yesterday Sunday Herald Sun (4-5-2008) Liam Houlihan/ Kate Kyriacou |
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ONE of Victoria's worst sex monsters will walk from jail within weeks and is tipped to offend again - but you are not allowed to know who he is. Police, child advocates, victims of crime groups and school representatives have slammed a court gag hiding the man's identity. The man is responsible for a decades-long reign of terror, abuse and rape against Melbourne women and girls. His record includes multiple sex offences after releases from jail and other attacks after days spent stalking his prey. The Sunday Herald Sun has learned the man is believed to be linked to as many as 200 unsolved sex attacks on top of his known record. Senior police warn the man "makes Mr Baldy look like a girl scout" and a psychiatrist predicts he will add more women and children to his long list of victims. Officers say they are staggered they will again have to attempt to protect the public from the serial menace. Recent assessments of the prisoner have also been suppressed by the court gag. Police say the man's modus operandi has evolved over the years from random violence to grooming or stalking his victims and loitering at schools. Sunday Herald Sun (4-5-2008) Liam Houlihan/ Kate Kyriacou |
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