Across town in the bowels of the state’s all-powerful
Crime Commission, Sergeant John
McNamara and Senior Constable Mick Kennedy faced off with one of the AFP’s top Sydney men, Detective
Chief Inspector Nigel Hadgkiss.
It was a career-threatening encounter. Hadgkiss was there
to confront the two over allegations they had falsely accused their
counterparts at the AFP Drug Investigation Unit of being spectacularly corrupt.
McNamara and Kennedy saw the tape-recorded interview as
the only hope of somehow getting their story out. Hadgkiss, who would later
become investigations chief at the Wood Royal Commission, pressed with
questions but McNamara refused to capitulate and he moved to shut down the
interrogation in frustration. But before he could, McNamara had this to say:
“I’m not fully aware of the allegations that you have in your possession
concerning me. However, if you believe you have sufficient evidence to charge
me criminally, do so.
“I would then be prepared to make a full and public
disclosure of information in my possession concerning corruption within the
Australian Federal Police.
“I would call on the Federal Government to hold a
royal commission into allegations of corruption and criminal behaviour by
certain members of the Sydney Drug Unit”.
McNamara also challenged the fact previous allegations of
“frequent drug use” by members of the TNT team had been ignored.
A transcript of the alarm-ringing statement and supporting
testimony was delivered to the 1996 federal Harrison
inquiry, held exclusively behind closed doors.
The transcript also made its way to a 2002 parliamentary
hearing chaired by Senator Bronwyn Bishop.
Neither airing led to action but nor were any of the
corruption claims subsequently disputed.
McNamara became seriously ill in the fallout from the
episode and retired. Kennedy was prosecuted for causing Hadgkiss to be
obstructed in his duties but these days wears the conviction as a badge of
honour.
“It might have been two decades ago but we’d stand by
every word,” he said.
“After years of having dealt with robbers,
prostitutes and drug addicts I can tell you they had more integrity than some
of the federal cops that were running around the Redfern drug unit.”
Photo: Jon Reid
– Whistleblower … Mick Kennedy.
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