Druggie who bashed female cop over the head with a brick in Sydneys Kings Cross is released on parole
A drug addict who savagely beat a female police officer over the head with a brick before leaving her for dead in Sydneys Kings Cross will be released on parole despite pleas from his victim.
A drug addict who savagely beat a female police officer over the head with a brick before leaving her for dead in Sydneys Kings Cross will be released on parole despite pleas from his victim.
Sergeant Samantha Barlow was on her way to work in the nightlife district in 2009 when she was attacked by Roderick Holohan, who fractured her skull, broke her nose and injured her neck.
Holohan was sentenced in 2010 to 21 years behind bars over the horrific attack but after becoming eligible for release fronted the Parole Authority last week in a desperate bid to leave prison.
In a statement, the State Parole Authority said its paramount concern is always the protection of the community but that in granting parole there was a balancing exercise that it must undertake.
The Authority thoroughly and diligently considered substantial reports provided by Community Corrections and the Serious Offenders Review Council, and expert psychiatric opinion, the statement read.
It carefully considered the statement and submission of the victim, Samantha Barlow, and those made on behalf of the Commissioner CSNSW.
The Authority has come to the view that community safety is better protected by monitoring this offender on a very lengthy period of supervised parole with strict conditions, to manage his reintegration and reduce his risk of reoffending.
If the offender were released at the end of sentence, there would be no risk mitigation plan in place and no supervision, and the danger posed to community safety would be substantially greater.
Sergeant Samantha Barlow (pictured) was on her way to work in the nightlife district in 2009 when she was attacked by Roderick Holohan, who fractured her skull, broke her nose and injured her neck
Samantha Barlow and Laurence Barlow are pictured as they leave the Trial Court in Parramatta
Ms Barlow, who left the force after the attack, was vocal in her opposition at Sydney West Trial Court to Holohan being granted bail, calling him an animal who endangered the community.
He bashed me until I was unconscious. When he went through my bag and discovered I was a sergeant he went back and kept smashing me in the head until he thought he killed me, she said.
She went on to tell the court: So, why are we even considering letting him back into the community we all live in? He ruined my life. I lost my career. I cannot smell or taste food and never will.
State representative Ghassan Kassisieh argued in court for an incremental release program rather than the immediate granting of parole, which would follow from him being reclassified.
He told the court Holohan had been rated having a high risk of violent reoffending and had allegedly offended while in custody, including intimidation and having a weapon within his cell.
Those are warning signs the state would say would need to be given due weight and consideration, and a more cautious approach may be taken at this juncture, the representative said.
Holohans lawyer, Bill Agha, told the parole authority that his client had completed all custodial program pathways while behind bars and had reduced the amount of custody misconduct.
