Yesterday’s naming and shaming of a 63 year-old convicted pedophile by Derryn Hinch has once again bought the granting of suppression orders to pedophiles to the public’s attention.
The offender was sentenced to 18 months gaol for the sexual abuse of his step-daughter aged just 11 at the time of the offence. During his case his lawyers argued that his name should be suppressed to protect his reputation and because naming him could have a “catastrophic impact on his ability to earn income”. The district court judge agreed, granting the man a name suppression order.
I’m sure when the grub was deriving sexual pleasure from his step-daughter he wasn’t thinking about his capacity to make an income and I’m sure he didn’t think of the long-term impact on his victim. Why should a court give any sympathy or protection to the perpetrator of such a heinous crime.
While I don’t doubt that the pedophile would have his business affected by his conviction, I don’t believe his name being suppressed is going to help. How many 63 year-old property developers are going to go on an 18 month holiday? I’m sure his clients will out two and two together and realise he is in gaol for what he did.
Keeping the names of pedophiles suppressed is something I have never supported, but for reasons such as this it is just plain crazy. The dirty bastard did the crime now he should face all the consequences that flow from that.