IT was about community.

And the Moree community came together on Saturday to talk openly and sensibly about a violent crime wave that is holding the town to ransom.

More than 500 people attended a well-structured, peaceful public meeting at Jellicoe Park, organised by a core group of concerned community members, led by well-known local Col Pring.

Mr Pring was joined by Moree mayor Susannah Pearse, deputy mayor Wayne Tighe and Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan.

Mr Pring spoke about a youth crime problem that has Moree at breaking point.

Victims of crime spoke bravely and passionately, including the family of 52-year-old Daniel McNamara, who was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a vehicle, allegedly stolen from Moree, during a police pursuit at Gunnedah.

Daniel’s father, Pat, and brothers Adam and David spoke about the January 28 crash that changed their lives forever.

Their wife and mother, Linda, suffered a stroke the day after Daniel’s death.

“Dan was hit from behind in a 50kph zone by a stolen ute,” Adam McNamara said.

“It was travelling at high speed, allegedly being driven by three 14-year-old known criminals. Dan’s life was taken from us.

“He didn’t stand a chance. Not one single chance, and they didn’t stop. They showed no remorse and no regard for human life.”

Mr McNamara said his family was horrified to learn the criminal history of the three alleged perpetrators.

“The multiple chances they were given in their 14 short years only taught them there are no consequences for their actions,” Mr McNamara said.

“This is a complete and utter failure of the judicial system. The alleged driver had a rap sheet 38 pages long and 90 bail breaches. One of his alleged passengers was out on bail. This was granted by a supreme court judge against the recommendation of police and local authorities.

“It has become apparent, criminals have more rights than victims,” he said.

The McNamara family say community safety is at risk and more lives are in danger if drastic changes are not implemented.

“The police risk their own lives apprehending these criminals every day, only to seem them face the courts and walk away with a slap on the wrist, smiles on their faces, and a little more street cred,” Adam said.

“It is abundantly clear the judicial system, and its failings, is breeding a generation of young criminals who have no respect for the law.

“This needs to change. Daniel, a good man, a true gentleman, was yet another victim of youth crime.

“He lost his life because of a sub-standard judicial system.

“We don’t want any other innocent person, or family, go through what we’ve been through,” Adam said.

“Our fight for justice will be my brother’s legacy. It is up to us to make a change, in Dan’s name.

“Daniel deserved better and your community – the community that Dan loved – deserves better.

“We will stand with you, and fight for a safer community for you, and for a change to the youth offender laws in New South Wales,” he said.

Moree mayor Susannah Pearse thanked the McNamara family for attending the meeting and speaking about the crash that killed their son and brother.

“What you have endured is unimaginable and from our community to you, we are tremendously sorry for what has happened,” Cr Pearse said.

“We don’t want it to happen again. One life is one life too many.”

Shire residents told their stories, including home invasion victims Shane and Sue Brooker, and Jayne McDouall and her daughter Samantha, who were victims of assault and car theft while waiting to start an early morning shift.

Letters from victims of crime who wanted to remain anonymous were also read out, and Moree councillor Kelly James told the large gathering tangible action was needed from political leaders.

“It is time to fix the root causes of youth crime, not just the symptoms,” Cr James said.

“We need legislation reforms that prioritise community safety, support for victims and deterrents for offenders.”

Recent incidents

Mr Pring told the gathering about recent incidents in Moree that have shocked the community.

“In the last month alone, we’ve had an 84-year-old lady’s house broken into and her car stolen,” Mr Pring said.

“We’ve had a doctor, well-known and well-respected in our community, whose house was broken into. He and his wife were assaulted and their car stolen.

“There is an elderly lady in Whiddon. Her vacant house was burnt to the ground and the Munro family home in Gwydir Street, burned to the ground.

“There are so many crime events happening. We had a bad situation in Boggabilla just recently, where the victims took revenge,” he said.

“This is not a great thing, but it happened and it’s worrying that this is going to happen more and more. We don’t want that, but there are people who are starting to take actions to defend themselves in their own homes.

“It’s their castle. They live in their castle and they want to protect their castle.

Mr Pring asked the large gathering to indicate who present were victims of crime.

More than half the crowd raised their hands.

“Not only are these people victims of crime, but they are also victims of the system. And that’s not right,” Mr Pring said.

“The greater majority of our community are good people, and we know they’re good people. If you look around, you will see good people.  It’s a small minority that has dragged our community to its knees.

“Not only our town, but surrounding communities are having the same problems . . . crime, home invasions, car thefts, houses burned down and people bashed.

“It’s a really, really sad situation,” Mr Pring said.

Private Members Bill

Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, who lives in Moree, is actively striving for change.

He gave notice in Parliament last month for the introduction of the Regional Youth Crime Reform Bill.

The Bill seeks to make three straightforward, yet significant changes to address the ongoing youth crime problems in regional New South Wales.

“This gathering is sending a pretty loud and clear message, and it’s my job to take that back to Macquarie Street,” Mr Moylan said.

“The statistics are pretty clear and the reality is clear for those of us who live here. We are eight-and-a-half times more likely to be broken into in Moree than the state average.”

Mr Moylan said breaches of bail in the last two years in Moree were up nearly 50 per cent and offences committed with weapons in the last two years in the Moree LGA were  up nearly 90 per cent.

“It is clear that we have a problem,” Mr Moylan said.

“There is only so much that can be achieved at state parliament by talking to people, and that’s why I’ve tabled the bill. Politically, that’s caused some problems for me.

“Firstly, the bill seeks to elevate the importance of the victim in the sentencing process. The court will have to pay a lot of regard and place a lot of weight on the impact of the victim, more so than mitigating factors that lead offenders to court.

“I also seek to tighten up the bail act. More than two-thirds of offending in Moree is committed by people on bail.

“If we could actually fix that, we would knock out nearly two thirds of the town’s crime. It’s a massive statistic,” Mr Moylan said.

“I am not saying that young offenders should not get bail, but what I am saying is that repeat, serious young offenders that break into houses should not be able to be given bail by the courts. It’s that simple.”

The bill also seeks to reverse the onus of doli incapax, a centuries-old legal principle stating children aged 10-14 are incapable of forming criminal intent.

“The offenders involved in the awful incident that the McNamara family is now living through each had more than 50 charges withdrawn and dismissed under doli incapax,” Mr Moylan said.

“No-one can tell me a 13-year-old putting a T-shirt or balaclava over his or her head and breaking into a house with a machete does not know what he or she is doing is wrong.

“Doli incapax is over 500 years old. This law is outdated and has to change,” he said.

“Mr Moylan said throwing money at the problem will not change anything.

“We need proper legislative reform. The job of the parliament is to protect our communities, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Mr Moylan said.

“When the premier comes up here and says ‘Moree, here’s two-million bucks, thanks, I’ll see you later’, it’s not going to change anything.

“We’re trying to make our bloody great town safer. We all live here because we love it, and we’ve all got good stories to tell.

“I’m sick to death of Moree being associated with crime. I’m sick of it, and it’s got to change,” he said.

Mayor Susannah Pearse commended Mr Moylan’s actions.

“Brendan has done a very brave thing in putting up a private members bill to parliament,” Cr Pearse said.

“It’s not necessarily a political astute thing to do, but it is exactly what our community wants to see.

“Our council last week resolved not just to support Brendan’s bill, but to also call on the premier and attorney general to tighten some of the laws and legislation around bail and sentencing.

“It also needs to be recognised that a lot of the children between 10 and 14 involved in these crimes, covering their faces and wielding knives, know what they’re doing and that needs to be incorporated into how the judicial system looks at things.

“Our community safety absolutely needs to be prioritised, and we need to stand up and not let this continue to define us,” she said.

New South Wales residents are encouraged to sign an ePetition calling for change.

The ePetition can be viewed and signed HERE.

Related story: Moree unites as the push for new legislation grows stronger