Uncovering Sydney’s shameful unsolved murders

I have the greatest respect for the writing of Duncan McNab, one-time NSW policeman, private investigator, author, journalist and, as his blurb says, media advisor to both government and the private sector. I have read some of his earlier works including The Dodger – Inside the World of Roger Rogerson, and Dead Man Running and, most recently, Roger Rogerson, this last the story of how the most crooked of cops was arrested, charged, and convicted of murder.

The book Getting Away With Murder – Up To 80 Men Murdered, 30 Unsolved Deaths is neither a comfortable nor a comforting read, especially for those traumatised by being gay in the Sydney of the 1970s through to the early 1990s. Nor is it for their families. There were uncountable numbers of gay men bashed in that period, with many a violent assault resulting in the death of the victim. This – along with lacklustre investigation – is the basis of Duncan McNab’s most recent book.

From his research and personal investigation, including interviews with victims, relatives, witnesses, current and ex- policemen and others, plus his own first-hand experience from back in that time period, the author has been able to put together a brutally realistic appraisal of crimes committed and, in some instances, show possible outcomes. In some of the cases presented, bodies of the gay men were found but in others no body has ever been discovered.

It wasn’t an easy matter for gay men to come out, for fear of possible physical violence, for the shame it might bring to self or to family, for possible loss of employment, even the likelihood of charges for an indecent act; it was against the law until the 1980s for male on male sexual conduct. Fear, too, was felt in the greater community, with little initial understanding of HIV/AIDS, its likely spread, and its potential to affect the community at large. The series of Grim Reaper advertisements added government fuel to the fire.

In June 1978, what became known as Australia’s first Gay Mardi Gras took place. Approval had been given for a gathering in Taylor Square. A marching crowd of 1,000 to 1,500 set off along Oxford Street towards Hyde Park, people singing and dancing in great excitement until police harassment began. Then, as The Australian reported, it became “…a two-hour spree of screaming, bashing and arrests.” There were 53 arrests, with The Sydney Morning Herald publishing names. As one marcher later said, “Some lost jobs… family contact… even suicided.” The SMH issued a public apology thirty-eight years later, in 2016.

Community attitudes at the time were less accepting of homosexuality, which was reflected to a great extent in the NSW Police Force. One of the worst aspects of gay bashing was the lack of interest shown by many police. In fact, there were instances where attacks on gay men were made by members of the police force (not that this was isolated to NSW; there was the infamous case in SA when law professor George Duncan was allegedly bashed by police officers and thrown into the River Torrens where he drowned).

One policeman who showed laudable initiative was Detective Sergeant Steve McCann. A young man skited about being a ‘poofter basher’, leading to his arrest along with two accomplices. They were charged initially with one brutal murder and this led McCann to consider other attacks in the Bondi area. Police records all too often were sketchy, so he went public with an appeal, even approaching the gay community for help. Steve McCann was a forerunner who set much of the standard for later police investigation.

I haven’t attempted to cover individual cases or issues. Suffice to say, many are covered in great detail in this interesting book. Duncan McNab reports in the final pages that on 22 May 2016, NSW Police went public with a review of 88 possible gay-hate crimes, thirty of which remain unsolved. They include alleged suicides and brutal beatings. Hopefully the review will help bring an end to what was a dreadful period in recent history and bring what is now commonly known as ‘closure’ to a number of families. As Superintendent Tony Crandell says, “(It) is an open and honest and transparent investigation… Whether… good or bad for the police… We will report the truth.”

Getting Away With Murder by Duncan McNab is available now from Dymocks. Click here to learn more.