Do the Bulldogs deserve an apology?

[the_flight_of_the_magpie]

Former detective Glenn Pearce has provided what appears to be the most comprehensive claim yet into alleged sexual misconduct by Canterbury Bulldogs players at Coffs Harbour in 2004.
At the time six Canterbury players were alleged to have gang raped a then 20-year-old woman in a Coffs Harbour pool area, with the case eventually thrown out of court due to insufficient evidence.
However an apparent trial by media certainly didn't cease, with Bulldogs players painted as villains.
Speaking on Sydney radio station 2SM, Pearce revealed that he knew "exactly what happened" as a senior detective on the case.
"We had an independent witness who walked into that pool area, an eye witness to one-on-one consensual sex," Pearce said.
"The evidence is very, vey strong. If you take the Bulldogs interviews out of it we still have very good evidence (supporting the Bulldogs players)."
Despite having the strong evidence, Pearce insisted that the NSW Police Force didn't want the information to come out, instead leaving the media to speculate on the incident.
He recalled how senior police told him: "It's not in the public interest, nor the NSW Police Force (interest) to have the woman re-interviewed and (potentially) charged."
"Senior police didn't want the information to come out," Pearce said.
"It's such a major scandal I just haven't been able to let it go."
Pearce was then asked "did the NSW Police Force seek truth and justice?"


He replied: "No definitely not."
Pearce went on to explain how he reached the decision to reveal his concerns about the whole affair.
"It's been difficult and I hoped I could go on with my life and put it behind me," he said.
"Maybe after today when I'm finally clearing the air (I'll be able to let it go) and hopefully for the Bulldogs players they can just get on with their lives and not have this gang rape thing hanging over their heads."
"I'll be proud that I finally came out and disclosed the truth for the best of the Bulldogs players.
"I'd hate to be walking around with that hanging over my head, it's the lowest of allegations.


"It's very important for the truth to come out, things can't change unless people stand up and tell the truth."
Pearce finally expressed how he wished this incident would not deter genuine sexual assault victims from coming forward in the future.

http://www.sportal.com.au/league/nr...lice-force-detective/go9mcjesrch18p8jb8mey4m6

imo the Bulldogs club and the then players deserve an apology

 

[TheDalek079]

so it was consensual? if so, then the lady just needs to go onto prime time television and cry whilst telling her story and the players involved will be sacked

 

[Gina Minehart]

Yes

Correct

 

[roostersrule2]

Nah f**k the merkins.

 

[Johnnie Red]

I don't know who to expect an apology from...maybe Darren Lockyer

 

[GongPanther]

I don't know who to expect an apology from...maybe Darren Lockyer

He would find that hard to swallow.

 

[adamkungl]

Lol nah f**k em. With 10 of my mates.

 

[DB]

Nah screw them.... All players should take a vow of Abstinence from Harold Matthews all the way till when they retire, just so a similar offence doesn't happen again.

 

[DB]

Lol nah f**k em. With 10 of my mates.

When you say no, do you mean no, or can we take that as a yes?

 

[The Phelan Folly]

:lol:

Lol nah f**k em. With 10 of my mates.

:lol:

 

[fourplay]

Are you sure this radio interview happened? I haven't seen it mentioned on any mainstream news source.

 

[POPEYE]

Next time I go to Coffs I'll have to make sure I get on the right line, wouldn't want to end up with just getting my feet wet

 

[Timmah]

Are you sure this radio interview happened? I haven't seen it mentioned on any mainstream news source.

2SM isn't exactly mainstream itself. Reasonably small audience you'd have to say.

 

[MarkC]

The facts of the case were on the public record from around the time the DPP announced it was dropping charges.

As far as we know no crime was committed, but no one deserves an apology.
The players weren't exactly blameless even though as far as we know the sex appears to be all consensual.

What was not right was incorrect sensationalist reporting of the story, by lazy journos who did not even bother to do basic research, well after the charges were dropped and all facts were on the public record.

By basic research, I mean reading stories published by other media outlets.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

so is today tonight or ACA going to cough up 100k to get the sl&t back on tv to tell the "truth" this time and still paint the players red

 

[POPEYE]

Could understand ferals on the dole lining up but cashed up League players, many of who punch well above their weight, deserve to have shit dumped on them from a great height if they participate in this sort of rubbish . . . consensual or not

 

[mave]

The nrl community deserve an apology from the Bulldogs.

Cheating, superleague scum.

 

[DC_fan]

People will always remember the case, but they will not remember the final outcome. Mud sticks and the Bulldogs players names will forever be tarnished.

If I was one of the players I would seriously consider suing the woman involved.

 

[MarkC]

People will always remember the case, but they will not remember the final outcome. Mud sticks and the Bulldogs players names will forever be tarnished.

If I was one of the players I would seriously consider suing the woman involved.

I am not sure what that would achieve, she probably doesn't have any money.

And in some ways it is not her fault, my impression is she may have been 'mixed up' or 'confused', or perhaps was not making good decisions for some reason.

A lot of the media coverage is questionable, if there was any legal action that is where it should be targeted. But media organisations know what they can get away with.

Any legal action would just air the issue again which would not be good for the woman, her family and the Dogs players involved.

BTW most of the speculation about players names is probably well wide of the mark, the Dogs copped considerable criticism for not naming players. Had any players been charged they would have been named at that point.