SATURDAY, 6TH MAY, 2006
"For two years now the players of this Club together with their families, Club officials and the fans have been forced to endure the stigma of the Coffs Harbour rape allegations.
"There are not many worse things somebody can be called than a "rapist". And that is the slur that our players, staff and even supporters have lived with for the past two years.
"We learned this week that a senior police detective, Gary McEvoy, who ran the case for the critical first three days before Jason Breton returned from holidays, has stated publicly that the police knew after just 48 hours of investigating that there were serious concerns with the evidence that was uncovered and the aggressive media strategy employed by senior police was inconsistent with that evidence.
"If, indeed, this was the view of the police who were actually doing the hands on work in relation to the investigation, we feel that the players, the Club and its fans and the community at large are entitled to know the reasons why it took the police a further two months of damaging leaks and unrelenting speculation before the investigation was formally concluded. Even then, the outcome was far from satisfactory with only limited comfort being given to the players and their families with a finding that there was insufficient evidence to support the laying of charges against any player. The statement attributed to Gary McEvoy goes well beyond this finding. He states as a positive fact that, in his view, there was no crime committed at Coffs Harbour. In the circumstances, the Club feels entitled to an explanation from NSW Police about why it took so long to conclude their investigation, why there were so many damaging leaks along the way and why the final announcement that no charges were to be laid against any player was made in such a way as to leave the lasting impression that something really did happen when Gary McEvoy is able to state unequivocally that, in his opinion, no crime was committed.
"The damage to the Bulldogs Club has been incalculable. Our players, their wives and children were abused and still are. The Club lost millions of dollars in sponsorship and was fined $350,000 by the NRL. At games, our supporters, even now, still have to put up with "rape" taunts.
"Since Gary McEvoy made his views public last Monday we have received numerous emails and letters from members of the public stating they have changed their minds about what they were led to believe happened at Coffs Harbour and have apologised to the players and the Club for believing they were guilty.
"I am very thankful that Gary McEvoy has come out and publicly stated that he believes the players are innocent of any wrongdoing. This admission is welcomed by the Club, its players and their families and all our loyal fans."
Malcolm Noad
CEO
Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs
"For two years now the players of this Club together with their families, Club officials and the fans have been forced to endure the stigma of the Coffs Harbour rape allegations.
"There are not many worse things somebody can be called than a "rapist". And that is the slur that our players, staff and even supporters have lived with for the past two years.
"We learned this week that a senior police detective, Gary McEvoy, who ran the case for the critical first three days before Jason Breton returned from holidays, has stated publicly that the police knew after just 48 hours of investigating that there were serious concerns with the evidence that was uncovered and the aggressive media strategy employed by senior police was inconsistent with that evidence.
"If, indeed, this was the view of the police who were actually doing the hands on work in relation to the investigation, we feel that the players, the Club and its fans and the community at large are entitled to know the reasons why it took the police a further two months of damaging leaks and unrelenting speculation before the investigation was formally concluded. Even then, the outcome was far from satisfactory with only limited comfort being given to the players and their families with a finding that there was insufficient evidence to support the laying of charges against any player. The statement attributed to Gary McEvoy goes well beyond this finding. He states as a positive fact that, in his view, there was no crime committed at Coffs Harbour. In the circumstances, the Club feels entitled to an explanation from NSW Police about why it took so long to conclude their investigation, why there were so many damaging leaks along the way and why the final announcement that no charges were to be laid against any player was made in such a way as to leave the lasting impression that something really did happen when Gary McEvoy is able to state unequivocally that, in his opinion, no crime was committed.
"The damage to the Bulldogs Club has been incalculable. Our players, their wives and children were abused and still are. The Club lost millions of dollars in sponsorship and was fined $350,000 by the NRL. At games, our supporters, even now, still have to put up with "rape" taunts.
"Since Gary McEvoy made his views public last Monday we have received numerous emails and letters from members of the public stating they have changed their minds about what they were led to believe happened at Coffs Harbour and have apologised to the players and the Club for believing they were guilty.
"I am very thankful that Gary McEvoy has come out and publicly stated that he believes the players are innocent of any wrongdoing. This admission is welcomed by the Club, its players and their families and all our loyal fans."
Malcolm Noad
CEO
Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs
