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Victoria Police Officer Who Uncovered Paedophile Priest Struggling to Make Ends Meet, Supporters Say

By Danny Tran
ABC News
April 9, 2018

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-10/whistleblower-cop-struggling-to-make-ends-meet-supporters-say/9635170

PHOTO: Denis Ryan says he was forced out of his job for trying to charge a priest. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

A former Victorian police officer who was drummed out of the force for trying to bring a notorious paedophile priest to justice is living a meagre existence and struggling to make ends meet, supporters calling for him to be compensated say.

Denis Ryan, 86, lives in a rented flat in Mildura and, despite clocking up about 20 years of service with Victoria Police, is not on a police pension.

"You certainly can't live lavishly or anything like that," he said.

To the fury of his friends in the north-west Victorian town, he gets by on an aged pension instead.

"It's a f***ing disgrace," said Vernon Knight, who has known him for about 30 years.

"He was crucified for doing his job and he was penalised for attempting to blow the whistle on the abuse that was occurring."

Mr Ryan was driven out of the police force after trying to charge Monsignor John Day, a paedophile priest who sexually abused children in Mildura in the early 1970s.

When he brought the case to the attention of his superiors, he was told to stop investigating.

Victoria Police officially apologised to Mr Ryan in 2016.

Chief Commissioner Ashton visits Ryan

In early March, Mr Knight, along with 30 other senior members of the community, wrote to Premier Daniel Andrews and urged him to give the former police officer what they believed he was owed in benefits.

They thought the Premier had listened to their pleas when, out of the blue, Mr Ryan received a call from Victoria Police's Chief Commissioner, Graham Ashton.

But when the pair met on Monday afternoon in Mildura, the issue was left unsettled.

Mr Ashton instead presented Mr Ryan with a picture of the two together.

When he brought up the subject of a pension with the Chief Commissioner, Mr Ryan said Graham Ashton "avoided the question".

'The man has suffered enough'

The situation has left friends like Stefano de Pieri bitterly disappointed.

"We were all anticipating a very happy ending," he said.

"You'd think his fellow policemen would rally and come to his aid."

He has called for Victoria Police to act.

"To make an allocation, a significant allocation, that would give him some dignity so that he can see out the rest of his days with peace and tranquillity. The man has suffered a lot and has suffered enough."

Mr Knight said the situation is about more than just money.

"This is about legitimising him, giving him back some dignity," he said.

"What would you think if you got a call from the Chief Commissioner saying, 'I'm coming to Mildura to meet with you'?"

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said any compensation or monetary arrangement was a "confidential matter" between the force and Mr Ryan.

On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews left the door open for Mr Ryan to receive some form of compensation.

"Victoria Police has already provided some support but I do know that he's fallen on hard times and my office will be speaking with him this afternoon," Mr Andrews said.

"If there is more we can do for someone who is an absolute Victorian hero, we will do that."

 

 

 

 

 




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