MARIBRYNONG MADNESS

Yesterday, first day back on 3AW, I put the cat among the pigeons, with the revelation that a convicted killer, awaiting deportation, had been given day leave to visit his Mum. Accompanied by four security guards paid for by you. Listeners heard on air the heartbreaking cries of pain and frustration from his victim’s mother and I’m glad the Herald Sun featured the scandal of Mehmet Ince today.

But it gets worse. Seems there’s no end to the accommodating ways of the management at the Maribrynong Detention Centre. I believe they are  considering a day leave application from another detainee, another killer facing deportation.

And this one has already escaped from custody earlier this year. I just hope by my publicizing this latest cynical sick joke on the Australian public this latest rort will be cancelled by Immigration Manager, Christina Santos.

I’ve talked about this man before. Back in May.  His name is Andrew Derek Moore. He’s 44. A brutal undesirable with a form sheet going back more than 25 years to his teenage years. He was charged with murder but spent time behind bars for manslaughter. There were drug convictions, theft, assault, weapons charges, domestic violence, assault police.

Moore is an illegal migrant. Understandably. He’s a Scottish-born, British citizen who had been in custody at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre for  three years.  He was due to be deported in May after exhausting all legal avenues to stay here.

 A week before his deportation, Moore was taken from the detention centre to Vaucluse Hospital in Moreland Road, Brunswick. He needed medical treatment for a probably bogus illness.

He was accompanied by two security guards from the private security firm that manages the detention centre for the Immigration Department. Despite his criminal history –and the fact that the clock was ticking for his final deportation – he was not handcuffed.

Not surprisingly, at the hospital he escaped. He was collected by an accomplice in a car which means the escape was planned and you wonder what phone communications Moore was allowed access to to set up the escape.

He stayed on the loose for about four months before turning himself in.
Since then he has been treated like a VIP guest at the detention centre. He’s got a new TV set and a DVD. (I hope he’s paying for them). He reportedly swans around in a blue bathrobe and treats the place like ‘his own Ritz-Carlton’.

I’m not against detainees having some creature comforts but surely an escapee must lose those privileges. And surely a man like Moore, who has escaped once, should not even be considered for day leave.
This is Maribrynong Madness. Your move Ms. Santos.

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2009