Latest news with #BenMcCormack
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Insiders reveal fallen ACA star Ben McCormack's deepest fear as he's arrested on sickening charges - and the no-skills job he fell back on after his television career ended
Ben McCormack was the gung-ho TV newshound who seemed to have it all. When A Current Affair's consumer affairs and social justice frontman wasn't chasing down fraudsters or wedging his foot in the doorway of accused conmen, he was enjoying sun-soaked weekends as a part-time lifeguard.
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Family of former A Current Affair star make a chilling threat as he faces court on child abuse charges
The family of a reporter who made his name on A Current Affair has reacted angrily when approached by media after he was charged with more than 60 offences related to child abuse material. Ben McCormack, once a gung-ho Nine Network newsman, was charged on Saturday with 65 counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material in Queensland. McCormack is accused of committing the alleged offences over several months last year at a home in Oxley, in Brisbane 's south. The 51-year-old, who gained fame tracking down paedophile Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes, had been living with his parents at a house in Oxley before his arrest. An elderly couple believed to be McCormack's parents Carmel and Patrick did not wish to talk when approached in the driveway of that Oxley address on Tuesday afternoon. 'No comment,' the woman told the Daily Mail. 'And would you please leave the premises unless you've got a warrant. 'Leave the premises immediately otherwise I will call the police.' When told that request would be immediately met, the woman said: 'I think that's a wise thing to do - you don't muck around with this family.' McCormack is accused of transmitting audio files, which amounted to child abuse material, on 65 occasions from his home. He has also been charged with four offences involving alleged breaches of his reporting obligations as an offender under the state's child protection laws. The charges were briefly mentioned in Brisbane Arrest Court on Monday when Legal Aid duty lawyer Zane Playle made no application for bail. McCormack was not required to appear in person and his case is due to return to Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 5. As well as being the face of many of A Current Affair's consumer stories, McCormack played a key role in exposing Robert Hughes. Hughes was found guilty in 2014 of 10 charges relating to sexual and indecent acts perpetrated on four young girls in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2010, after allegations of Hughes' abuse first came to light, McCormack confronted the former sitcom star in Singapore. He phoned victim Sarah Monahan the result of Hughes' 2014 trial after watching the guilty verdict in the courtroom. McCormack joined Nine in the 1990s before quickly climbing up the ranks and becoming a senior reporter for A Current Affair. He was well known for covering topics such as consumer affairs and social justice issues. McCormack was previously described by Nine as a '25 year veteran of the network' before his employment came to an abrupt end in 2017. He was initially suspended by the network before he resigned.
The Australian
04-08-2025
- The Australian
Benjamin Stephen McCormack: Former A Current Affair journalist charged with 60+ child abuse material offences
Former A Current Affair journalist Ben McCormack is back in court after being charged with more than 60 child abuse material offences. Mr McCormack, a former high-profile TV journalist with the Nine Network, had his matter mentioned in the Brisbane Arrests Court on Monday. He is charged with 65 counts of using a carriage service to 'transmit, make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote' child abuse material, three counts of failing to comply with his reporting obligations and a single count of giving false or misleading information. According to court documents, the carriage service charges relate to allegations Mr McCormack transmitted audio files considered to be child abuse material on diverse dates over April to November last year. The three reporting charges concern allegations he failed to notify child protection authorities about details concerning a social media site, 'digital devices' and a carriage service. His last charge alleges he gave false or misleading information about a 'carriage service start date' to authorities. Mr McCormack's matter was adjourned to September 5 on request by his lawyer. He remains in custody on remand. Blake Antrobus Court reporter Blake Antrobus covers Queensland courts and crime for NCA NewsWire. He began his career in journalism in 2015, migrating from Sydney's northern beaches to southwest Queensland. He has covered politics, crime, education and general news for newspapers across the state. NewsWire NSW Police are reviewing footage of an officer allegedly pushing a woman to the ground during a dramatic arrest after a car was damaged outside a school. NewsWire Flights have been delayed as thousands of passengers were forced to be rescreened for security from Brisbane Airport following a technical fault.
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Daily Mail
High-profile Channel Nine reporter Ben McCormack is slapped with more than 60 child abuse material offences
A former Channel Nine reporter has been charged with more than 60 offences related to child abuse material. Ben McCormack, who worked for A Current Affair, was charged on Saturday with 64 counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material and one count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to self. McCormack has also been charged with three counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations and one count of giving false or misleading information. He is accused of committing the offences on 65 occasions from his address in Oxley, Brisbane, on various dates last year. The 51-year-old had his case briefly mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. He was not required to appear in person. No application for bail was made and his Legal Aid duty lawyer Zane Playle asked for the matter to be adjourned to September 5.
News.com.au
04-08-2025
- News.com.au
Former TV journalist Benjamin McCormack charged with more than 60 child abuse material offences
Former A Current Affair journalist Ben McCormack is back in court after being charged with more than 60 child abuse material offences. Mr McCormack, a former high-profile TV journalist with the Nine Network, had his matter mentioned in the Brisbane Arrests Court on Monday. He is charged with 65 counts of using a carriage service to 'transmit, make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote' child abuse material, three counts of failing to comply with his reporting obligations and a single count of giving false or misleading information. According to court documents, the carriage service charges relate to allegations Mr McCormack transmitted audio files considered to be child abuse material on diverse dates over April to November last year. The three reporting charges concern allegations he failed to notify child protection authorities about details concerning a social media site, 'digital devices' and a carriage service. His last charge alleges he gave false or misleading information about a 'carriage service start date' to authorities. Mr McCormack's matter was adjourned to September 5 on request by his lawyer. He remains in custody on remand.
