Bravehearts, an Australian organisation committed to protecting children from sexual assault, has called for the immediate dismissal of former Wollongong magistrate Doug Dick. Magistrate Dick granted the continuation of bail conditions for Maurice Van Ryn after he pleaded guilty to a string of child sex offences in Bega Local Court. Bravehearts founder and chief executive officer Hetty Johnston has written to NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard and NSW Chief Justice Thomas Bathurst to express "grave concerns" about the decision to grant bail. In the letters, Ms Johnston called for the immediate dismissal of the magistrate, Mr Dick, and a review of all his decisions made over the past 24 months. Van Ryn pleaded guilty to 12 separate offences involving children under 16, including the most serious, "persistent sexual abuse of a child", which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years' jail. He was committed to the District Court for sentencing on February 2, 2015. However, after his bail was continued despite the guilty plea, Mr Hazzard called for an urgent review into the circumstances and urged the DPP to step in and appeal against the decision. Community concerns were heightened further when it was discovered Van Ryn had allegedly committed one of the offences while already on bail for a separate child abuse matter. In June 2014, Van Ryn was arrested and charged over an act of indecency with a child under 16. It is believed to have been this matter that prompted other victims to come forward with their stories of abuse that go back at least 10 years. He was released on bail. However, he allegedly committed a further offence - an assault with act of indecency - in July this year. A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Justice said while Van Ryn did not breach any imposed bail conditions, he did commit a further offence while on bail. "By any measure, this decision [to grant bail] is unforgivable, unfathomable and unacceptable," Ms Johnston wrote in her letters. "Van Ryn admitted guilt, admitted committing the most horrendous offences against the most vulnerable members of our community. In addition, as the Crown argued, this is a man who has the financial means to abscond if he so wishes and as such poses a flight risk. "There is absolutely every justification for his detainment pending sentencing. "When he committed these offences, he forfeited his right to be considered above the rights of victims, children and the community."
Bravehearts, an Australian organisation committed to protecting children from sexual assault, has called for the immediate dismissal of former Wollongong magistrate Doug Dick.
Magistrate Dick granted the continuation of bail conditions for Maurice Van Ryn after he pleaded guilty to a string of child sex offences in Bega Local Court.
Bravehearts founder and chief executive officer Hetty Johnston has written to NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard and NSW Chief Justice Thomas Bathurst to express "grave concerns" about the decision to grant bail.
In the letters, Ms Johnston called for the immediate dismissal of the magistrate, Mr Dick, and a review of all his decisions made over the past 24 months.
Van Ryn pleaded guilty to 12 separate offences involving children under 16, including the most serious, "persistent sexual abuse of a child", which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years' jail. He was committed to the District Court for sentencing on February 2, 2015.
However, after his bail was continued despite the guilty plea, Mr Hazzard called for an urgent review into the circumstances and urged the DPP to step in and appeal against the decision.
Community concerns were heightened further when it was discovered Van Ryn had allegedly committed one of the offences while already on bail for a separate child abuse matter.
In June 2014, Van Ryn was arrested and charged over an act of indecency with a child under 16.
It is believed to have been this matter that prompted other victims to come forward with their stories of abuse that go back at least 10 years.
He was released on bail. However, he allegedly committed a further offence - an assault with act of indecency - in July this year.
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Justice said while Van Ryn did not breach any imposed bail conditions, he did commit a further offence while on bail.
"By any measure, this decision [to grant bail] is unforgivable, unfathomable and unacceptable," Ms Johnston wrote in her letters.
"Van Ryn admitted guilt, admitted committing the most horrendous offences against the most vulnerable members of our community. In addition, as the Crown argued, this is a man who has the financial means to abscond if he so wishes and as such poses a flight risk.
"There is absolutely every justification for his detainment pending sentencing.
"When he committed these offences, he forfeited his right to be considered above the rights of victims, children and the community."
