Convicted sex offender MP takes court defamation defeat
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, was convicted earlier in July in the NSW District Court of sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults.
A day after being denied bail while he waits for sentencing, his defamation lawsuit against radio station 2SM was heard in the NSW District Court.
The nature of the defamation allegations was not revealed in a brief court hearing on Thursday morning, beside that it related to his recent criminal convictions.
Ward's lawyer asked that the defamation case be adjourned until after his sentence hearing on September 19 and while he considers appeal avenues.
But Judge Judith Gibson knocked back that suggestion and removed the case from the court's inactive list, instead setting the matter down for a directions hearing on September 11.
The judge noted that Ward's conviction would be "important" in the proceedings, but added it was unlikely his sentence would be finalised on September 19.
"I don't think that standing it over for close to a month is going to achieve anything much," she told the court.
Lawyers for 2SM indicated they wanted the defamation matter dealt with as soon as possible.
In February 2013, Ward invited a drunk 18-year-old man, whom he met a year before, to his South Coast home.
The man told the jury at trial Ward plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist.
The long-time MP sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House in 2015.
The man, who was 24 at the time but is now in his 30s, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no".
The premier said he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required.
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
A disgraced state MP who sexually abused two young men has suffered yet another court defeat.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, was convicted earlier in July in the NSW District Court of sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults.
A day after being denied bail while he waits for sentencing, his defamation lawsuit against radio station 2SM was heard in the NSW District Court.
The nature of the defamation allegations was not revealed in a brief court hearing on Thursday morning, beside that it related to his recent criminal convictions.
Ward's lawyer asked that the defamation case be adjourned until after his sentence hearing on September 19 and while he considers appeal avenues.
But Judge Judith Gibson knocked back that suggestion and removed the case from the court's inactive list, instead setting the matter down for a directions hearing on September 11.
The judge noted that Ward's conviction would be "important" in the proceedings, but added it was unlikely his sentence would be finalised on September 19.
"I don't think that standing it over for close to a month is going to achieve anything much," she told the court.
Lawyers for 2SM indicated they wanted the defamation matter dealt with as soon as possible.
In February 2013, Ward invited a drunk 18-year-old man, whom he met a year before, to his South Coast home.
The man told the jury at trial Ward plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist.
The long-time MP sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House in 2015.
The man, who was 24 at the time but is now in his 30s, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no".
The premier said he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required.
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
A disgraced state MP who sexually abused two young men has suffered yet another court defeat.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, was convicted earlier in July in the NSW District Court of sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults.
A day after being denied bail while he waits for sentencing, his defamation lawsuit against radio station 2SM was heard in the NSW District Court.
The nature of the defamation allegations was not revealed in a brief court hearing on Thursday morning, beside that it related to his recent criminal convictions.
Ward's lawyer asked that the defamation case be adjourned until after his sentence hearing on September 19 and while he considers appeal avenues.
But Judge Judith Gibson knocked back that suggestion and removed the case from the court's inactive list, instead setting the matter down for a directions hearing on September 11.
The judge noted that Ward's conviction would be "important" in the proceedings, but added it was unlikely his sentence would be finalised on September 19.
"I don't think that standing it over for close to a month is going to achieve anything much," she told the court.
Lawyers for 2SM indicated they wanted the defamation matter dealt with as soon as possible.
In February 2013, Ward invited a drunk 18-year-old man, whom he met a year before, to his South Coast home.
The man told the jury at trial Ward plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist.
The long-time MP sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House in 2015.
The man, who was 24 at the time but is now in his 30s, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no".
The premier said he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required.
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
A disgraced state MP who sexually abused two young men has suffered yet another court defeat.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, was convicted earlier in July in the NSW District Court of sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults.
A day after being denied bail while he waits for sentencing, his defamation lawsuit against radio station 2SM was heard in the NSW District Court.
The nature of the defamation allegations was not revealed in a brief court hearing on Thursday morning, beside that it related to his recent criminal convictions.
Ward's lawyer asked that the defamation case be adjourned until after his sentence hearing on September 19 and while he considers appeal avenues.
But Judge Judith Gibson knocked back that suggestion and removed the case from the court's inactive list, instead setting the matter down for a directions hearing on September 11.
The judge noted that Ward's conviction would be "important" in the proceedings, but added it was unlikely his sentence would be finalised on September 19.
"I don't think that standing it over for close to a month is going to achieve anything much," she told the court.
Lawyers for 2SM indicated they wanted the defamation matter dealt with as soon as possible.
In February 2013, Ward invited a drunk 18-year-old man, whom he met a year before, to his South Coast home.
The man told the jury at trial Ward plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist.
The long-time MP sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House in 2015.
The man, who was 24 at the time but is now in his 30s, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no".
The premier said he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required.
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
North shore teal candidate targeted in Liberal-linked threat letter
A series of anonymous threats have been made against Berowra teal candidate Tina Brown by a supporter of Liberal MP Julian Leeser, with the matter under NSW Police review. In four letters received since April by Brown and independent Hornsby Shire councillor Nathan Tilbury, a former Liberal who supported the teal, the author accuses Brown of seeking to 'punish the Liberal Party' and take 'votes away from Leeser' so he would lose on preferences. Berowra, on Sydney's upper north shore, remains one of the last blue-ribbon seats in NSW. Leeser, the MP since former immigration minister Philip Ruddock retired in 2016, suffered a near 6 per cent two-party-preferred swing against him at the May federal election, leaving his seat on a margin of 1.6 per cent. In an 18-page letter received by Tilbury and Brown earlier this week, the author wrote that they planted 'Leeser's corflute at the front of my house' and handed out how-to-vote flyers at a polling booth, adding that this was the 'first time in my life I got involved in supporting a candidate'. 'I will hate Tina Brown for the rest of my life and will be wishing her the worst. If I were a Haitian, I would create a voodoo doll resembling her and prick pins into it,' the author wrote, later adding that his contributions during the campaign were a 'passive way of diverting thoughts of causing Tina Brown maximum harm'. 'Watch out for white upper-class privileged women bearing gifts. I believe in karma. I am confident that providence will deal Tina Brown the blow she richly deserves. She is truly a loathsome individual whom I hold in absolute contempt.' In one paragraph, the author said they noticed Brown at an Anzac Day ceremony, saying: 'I realised what it would have been like to feel the presence of Hitler at a Nuremberg Rally. It was annoying to breathe the same air as a wretch like her. 'I hope that before I die, I will be able to confront her and express to her face the low opinion I have of her. Such a vindictive harridan. Death is too good for her,' said the author, describing themselves as a 'disgusted, angry and disappointed member of the Berowra electorate'.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
North shore teal candidate targeted in Liberal-linked threat letter
A series of anonymous threats have been made against Berowra teal candidate Tina Brown by a supporter of Liberal MP Julian Leeser, with the matter under NSW Police review. In four letters received since April by Brown and independent Hornsby Shire councillor Nathan Tilbury, a former Liberal who supported the teal, the author accuses Brown of seeking to 'punish the Liberal Party' and take 'votes away from Leeser' so he would lose on preferences. Berowra, on Sydney's upper north shore, remains one of the last blue-ribbon seats in NSW. Leeser, the MP since former immigration minister Philip Ruddock retired in 2016, suffered a near 6 per cent two-party-preferred swing against him at the May federal election, leaving his seat on a margin of 1.6 per cent. In an 18-page letter received by Tilbury and Brown earlier this week, the author wrote that they planted 'Leeser's corflute at the front of my house' and handed out how-to-vote flyers at a polling booth, adding that this was the 'first time in my life I got involved in supporting a candidate'. 'I will hate Tina Brown for the rest of my life and will be wishing her the worst. If I were a Haitian, I would create a voodoo doll resembling her and prick pins into it,' the author wrote, later adding that his contributions during the campaign were a 'passive way of diverting thoughts of causing Tina Brown maximum harm'. 'Watch out for white upper-class privileged women bearing gifts. I believe in karma. I am confident that providence will deal Tina Brown the blow she richly deserves. She is truly a loathsome individual whom I hold in absolute contempt.' In one paragraph, the author said they noticed Brown at an Anzac Day ceremony, saying: 'I realised what it would have been like to feel the presence of Hitler at a Nuremberg Rally. It was annoying to breathe the same air as a wretch like her. 'I hope that before I die, I will be able to confront her and express to her face the low opinion I have of her. Such a vindictive harridan. Death is too good for her,' said the author, describing themselves as a 'disgusted, angry and disappointed member of the Berowra electorate'.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Katelin McInerney endorsed by Labor for Kiama by-election after Gareth Ward's resignation
Labor's Katelin McInerney will recontest the seat of Kiama in next month's by-election after the resignation of long-time former MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward. Ward was found guilty by a jury last month of three counts of indecent assault and one of sexual intercourse without consent against two younger men. He resigned less than two hours before a motion on expelling him was due to be debated in NSW parliament last week. If successful, it would have been the first expulsion in more than 100 years. Ms McInerney, who works in the local non-for-profit sector, was only narrowly defeated by Ward in the 2023 state election. In announcing her candidacy, Premier Chris Minns said the party had to be 'realistic about the challenge ahead'. 'This will be a tough seat for Labor to win — but Katelin knows her community, she understands their priorities, and she will work tirelessly to deliver for them,' he said. 'Our government is focused on fairness — rebuilding essential services without an unfair wages cap, and without privatisation. 'We're getting on with delivering for the people of Kiama, but we recognise that the community will have more to say about the needs of this community.' Ms McInerney said the Minns government had started to deliver in Kiama, 'but I know there is more work to do'. 'If I have the honour of being elected as the Member, I will be a strong local voice and deliver more for our community,' she said. 'I will make sure that we continue to deliver the critical infrastructure and services that our community needs and relies on.' Labor hasn't held the seat of Kiama since 2011, when Matt Brown was unseated by Gareth Ward, then a Liberal. Ward held it from then on, until this past week. Ms McInerney was only narrowly defeated on a two-party preferred vote by Ward, 49.2 to 50.8 per cent. She grew up in Kiama and began her career as a local journalist and was the first woman to lead the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance trade union. Further, she helped to establish Women in Media, a mentoring and support network that connects women across the industry, and has worked in the NGO sector. Opposition leader Mark Speakman on Wednesday said it would be a 'herculean task' for the Liberals to win in Kiama. Despite winning the seat with Ward prior to his departure from the party, the Liberals polled only 12 per cent on the primary vote in 2023. 'If you take out the complicating factor of an independent, at the time Gareth Ward, and look at the upper house for the underlying vote, we had 24 per cent, Labor 38. 'In the recent federal election, those polling booths returned 32 per cent primary for us, so we start way behind. It is a herculean task.' Asked he was running a Liberal or Liberal-National coalition candidate, Mr Speakman said 'we are certainly running a Liberal candidate. 'Nominations closed yesterday. We'll be finishing the preselection process urgently and have something to say very soon,' he said. 'I don't think the Nats are running, but you'd have to ask Dugald (Saunders, NSW Nationals leader).'
