THIS LETTER MAKES THE POINT THAT ALL MEN ARE AT RISK, because of the convictions of William D'Arcy.

Clear evidence has since emerged that the person whose account of seeing Bill D'Arcy touch a young girl's breasts was not at the school at the time she claimed to have seen the offence. School attendance records emerged AFTER THE TRIAL which shows this clearly. D'Arcy's lawyers are pursuing an appeal to the Queensland Governor for a "pardon".

Dally Messenger III

4/168 Lennox St

RICHMOND 3121

Vic. Australia

Sunday, November 17, 2002

The Editor

The Courier-Mail

Brisbane. Queensland

4000

Dear Madam/Sir

I have just sat through the four days of Bill D’Arcy trial in Queensland. The farcical guilty verdict on one of the three charges should instill fear in every man in Australia. D’Arcy was convicted of a charge on one woman’s accusation made in the context of chaotic thirty year old evidence. The repercussions are fearful.

• Every man in Australia is now vulnerable to a sexual misconduct charge made capriciously 20, 30, or 40 years on, or whenever she feels like it.

• His fear is  exacerbated in that her identity is protected, but his identity and reputation is exposed and ruined forever regardless of guilt or innocence.

• She pays no legal fees at all. She is the legal guest of “the Crown” but he will probably lose his life savings, perhaps his home to pay legal fees.

• Finally, the law will not protect him from publicity. A sensation seeking media is much more powerful than the law and cannot be beaten – a fact which the judiciary and the legal profession must now accept.

Dally Messenger III

(not published)