"Ik wist niet dat het meisje naakt was..."

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Pedofiel: "Ik wist niet dat het meisje naakt was"

11/10 Dennis Ferguson is de bekendste pedofiel van Australië. Hij is veroordeeld voor het verkrachten van twee kinderen op een hotelkamer. Zijn gevangenisstraf van 14 jaar zit er op, maar Ferguson toont nog altijd geen schuldbesef.

"Ik stond net in de douche toen de politie op de deur klopte. Ik dacht dat het een vriend was en ging opendoen. Maar ik wist helemaal niet dat het meisje op dat moment naakt op het bed zat. Ik heb niks verkeerd gedaan. Maar plots staan er zeven agenten in de hotelkamer."

De feiten zijn nochtans bewezen. Het zorgt ervoor dat Ferguson in geen enkel dorp welkom is. De bewoners zijn bang dat hij weer zal toeslaan en protesteren dag en nacht voor zijn deur. Zo moet Ferguson elke nacht een andere slaapplaats zoeken.

Eén van de bewoners formuleert het als volgt: "Zijn straf uitgezeten? Weet je, zoiets kan je niet afleren. Eens een pedofiel, altijd een pedofiel. Waarom zouden we het risico lopen dat hij zich aan onze kinderen vergrijpt? Ik weet niet waar hij moet wonen, maar alleszins niet hier."

Uiteindelijk kan Ferguson alleen nog terecht in het huis van een andere pedofiel. Het maakt de kans wel erg groot dat hij opnieuw een misdaad zal begaan. Nu heeft de overheid beslist dat hij daar ook weg moet.

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Dennis Ferguson's beach photo labelled a "stunt" after it appeared on the Sydney Morning Herald this morning. Picture: Brett Collins Source: The Courier-Mail

A PHOTO of convicted pedophile Dennis Ferguson on a Sydney beach is a publicity stunt, his neighbour fighting to avoid a restraining order says.

Father-of-three Sean Killgallon has vowed not to negotiate with Ferguson, who has filed a court application for an apprehended personal violence order (APVO) against him.

Both men appeared with legal counsel in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today to determine a hearing date for the matter.

The proceedings came on the same day a photograph appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald showing Ferguson and his advocate Brett Collins at Coogee Beach in their speedos and giving the thumbs-up to the photographer, with small children playing in the background.

Following the court proceedings, Mr Killgallon said the photo and APVO were a sham.

''... That picture on the beach ... involving innocent children, innocent families - it is nothing but a publicity stunt for today," he said.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage

* Ferguson wins AVO against coffin-maker Adelaide Now, 19 Jan 2010
* Pervert a 'pin-up' for child molesters Daily Telegraph, 28 Oct 2009
* Pose with pedophile about 'safety' The Australian, 28 Oct 2009
* Paedophile's beach photo 'publicity stunt' Adelaide Now, 28 Oct 2009
* Paedo Ferguson lives 'cell-like' life Daily Telegraph, 28 Oct 2009

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

Mr Killgallon does not want Ferguson to return to his neighbourhood in the Sydney suburb of Ryde, but declined to comment on the right of convicted paedophiles to rejoin the community after serving a prison term.

"I'm a concerned father-of-three. And it's always been, from the start, within the law, law-abiding citizens and the innocence of our children," Mr Killgallon said.

Ferguson served 14 years in jail in Queensland for the abduction and sexual assault of three children.

He was recently living in public housing in Ryde until residents became aware of his presence and forced his relocation.

Mr Killgallon's lawyer Damien Tudehope said the only acceptable outcome would be for Ferguson to withdraw his APVO application.

Ferguson and Mr Collins also fronted reporters outside court, saying their offer to Mr Killgallon had been rejected.

"All we were asking for was for Mr Ferguson to receive an apology for the things that have been said against him and to get a guarantee of his safety," Mr Collins said.

"And those things were not given to us so we have no choice but to go ahead for the court case."

Ferguson intends to return to Ryde, the APVO application states, and he has had several offers to take up private residence there.

He was granted accommodation by the NSW Department of Housing in late August but by mid-September residents' concerns over his presence emerged in the media, revealing his whereabouts.

During the ensuing days, Mr Killgallon erected a sign saying "pedophile (sic)" in the street and placed a coffin outside Ferguson's unit, the application states.

He was also an outspoken resident during a rally of approximately 200 people held outside Ferguson's unit.

Ferguson later vacated the premises and a week later state parliament passed legislation that allowed the housing department to relocate him.

The APVO application has been stood over until November 4, when both sides are expected to agree on a date for a half-day hearing some time in early 2010.

Ferguson 'pin-up boy' for reformed criminals

Earlier in the day, Mr Collins called Ferguson the "pin-up boy" for reformed criminals who have a right to live unhindered in any community they choose.

The pair spoke to media after the beach photograph.

Mr Collins said the photograph and the court case were just the beginning of Ferguson's campaign to be able to live a normal life.

"Today is the day in which we start to push back," he said.

"To make sure that people are not excluded in the way that Mr Ferguson has been.

"He in some ways is the pin-up boy ... of people who are entitled to come back, serve their sentence and start a clean slate."

Mr Killgallon also spoke to reporters outside court, labelling the front page photo in today's paper "disgusting".

"It's terrible - a partially nude man on a beach who is a known paedophile."

Mr Killgallon also said he was incensed that he had to appear in court over his actions in September when he publicly campaigned in the Sydney suburb of Ryde after it was revealed Ferguson was living close by.

"I think it's an injustice (that) I have to justify myself to the law of NSW,'' he said.