Shadow Attorney-General Michael Daley has said that the community has every right to be surprised and outraged by media reports today that a convicted paedophile was allowed to roam freely in the community and attend children’s events having been granted bail not once, but on two occasions.
 
On Sunday a paedophile convicted of eight child sex offences was caught by police breaching bail and attending a two-day children’s equestrian gymkhana. Within a day, the paedophile was again free to roam the streets, having been again granted bail.
 
The incident comes only days after another child sex offender was granted bail after being found guilty of eight historic child sex offences.
 
NSW Shadow Attorney-General Michael Daley has said the community has every right to be surprised and outraged by the media reports.
 
“I understand that judges and magistrates sometimes get it wrong, but this decision completely fails community expectations, and the Attorney-General Mark Speakman needs to explain how this decision happened and needs to ensure that these bail decisions are appealed immediately.
 
“The fact that bail was granted not once, but twice after the handing down of a child sex offence conviction is totally unacceptable.”
 
“The Attorney-General ordered a bail review last November, and we are still yet to see any outcomes. At Budget Estimates in March, Mark Speakman was unable to give a specific timeframe for any outcomes.”
 
“While the Government takes its time to respond to this important issue, critical incidents continue to occur, threatening public safety in NSW.”

MICHAEL DALEY MP
NSW SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL