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Cornwall Public Inquiry

Perry Dunlop
Former police officer gets another 30 days for refusing to testify

globeandmail.com

 

September 3, 2008 at 6:16 PM EDT

 

JOSHUA CLIPPERTON

 

The Canadian Press

 

TORONTO — A former police officer who has repeatedly refused to participate in a public inquiry into a sexual abuse probe that he helped spark was sentenced to another 30 days in jail Wednesday for criminal contempt of court.

  

Perry Dunlop has already spent six months in jail for civil contempt of court because of his unwillingness to give evidence at an inquiry probing the institutional response to allegations a sexual abuse ring was operating in the Cornwall, Ont., area.

  

The 46-year-old was scheduled to be released Thursday on the civil conviction, but had yet to be sentenced on a criminal contempt conviction stemming from his refusal of a judge's order to appear at the inquiry.

  

Crown attorney David Humphrey told the court it could not ignore Mr. Dunlop's disregard of a judge's order.

  

“It would be sending the wrong message to impose no jail time,” said Mr. Humphrey.

  

Divisional Court Justices Lee Ferrier and Katherine Swinton agreed, but imposed a sentence shorter than the three to six month term the Crown had requested.

  

Mr. Dunlop's decision to “orchestrate” his arrest at his home in Duncan, B.C., on Feb. 17 to ensure maximum publicity, played a role in the his conviction for criminal contempt, as well as his 30-day sentence, Ms. Swinton told the court.

  

The fact that Mr. Dunlop has been segregated from other inmates because he is a former police officer and enjoys less freedom as a result played a part in the length of the term, Ms. Swinton added.

 

Mr. Dunlop was also credited for time spent in custody prior to sentencing on his civil contempt of court charge.

 

He told the court he meant no disrespect by ignoring the judge's order and only had issue with the Cornwall Public Inquiry.

  

Had Mr. Dunlop reversed his decision while serving time on the civil contempt conviction and agreed to give evidence at the inquiry, he could have been released.

 

That is no longer the case with the criminal conviction and he will serve the full term regardless, the court heard.

 

Mr. Dunlop, who represented himself at the sentencing hearing, told the court he “hadn't touched grass in months” and used words like “humiliation” to describe his life in prison.

 

“It has taken all of my life skills to endure this journey,” he added.

   What Mr. Dunlop described was “what jail is about,” Mr. Humphrey told the court.

“[Jail] is hard. There's a loss of liberty.”

  

The difference between Mr. Dunlop an other prisoners is that he controlled his own destiny, Mr. Humphrey added.

  

Mr. Dunlop's wife Helen took the stand to describe to the court the impact her husband's incarceration has had on their family.

 

There's no purpose in keeping her husband locked up, she said.

 

“In my heart I don't believe justice is served by putting that man back behind bars,” she said pointing at Mr. Dunlop while holding back tears.

  

Mr. Dunlop began looking into an alleged pedophile ring that supposedly involved senior civic officials, clergymen and police officers on his own time in 1993.

  

A provincial police investigation led to 114 charges against 15 men, but resulted in only one conviction.

 

Despite Mr. Dunlop's vehement claims, “Project Truth” found no evidence of an organized sex abuse ring.

  

He has repeatedly maintained that he won't testify at the public inquiry because he has no faith in the justice system.

 

Outside the court, Helen Dunlop said she had hoped her husband would be coming home.

 

“My reaction is ... it's mixed to be honest with you,” she told reporters.

 

“It's been 200 days of jail time for a decorated police officer who stood to the plate, followed legislated law in this country to protect children.”

  Mr. Dunlop will spend the next 30 days at the same Ottawa detention centre he's called home for the last six months before his release on Oct. 4.

Comments

  1. Northern Boy from Sudbury, Canada writes: This poor guy and his family have been screwed by the system. He finally had enough and refused to testify after having his life totally turned upside down. Because he stood up for his convictions, he was sent to prison. Another sad day for the lack of justice in this terribly misguided witchhunt.
 
  1. Paul Byer from Canada writes: How many peoples lives were ruined by false allegations? This jail time is a small token of punishment that should be meted out. Very sad.
 
  1. strider 643 from Canada writes: Very Good! How about 3 years?
 
  1. Ace Frehley from Vancouver, Canada writes: This "poor guy"?! You've gotta be kidding. His family I can sympathize with. But the cop who started this chain of events deserves nothing but the worst.

    The witch hunt was the investigation started by this punk in the first place.
 
  1. Ruth Walker from Edmonton, Canada writes: Tunnel vision by police investigators has caused untold harm to Canadians.
    There is a very good reason for a public inquiry in this case.
    There is a very good reason to sanction an uncooperative key witness.
    At the very least, the public deserves to be told just exactly how "this poor guy" has been screwed.
 
  1. Joanne Johnston from Canada writes: Well Paul Byer, you don't know what you are talking about, that much is clear. I personally worked with this honorable man in the early 1990's and I believe him 100%. He didn't hang out with the boys and go drinking at 7 am after his shift was over like a lot of the them did. He went home to his family like he was supposed to. It's been over 15 years but I remember they (the boys) had a saying back then, "you're either in or you're out and if you're out, you're out". Which means you're not part of the "club". Knowing what I know about that city and the police officers I used to work with, I completely believe Perry. He is a good man and he tried to save innocent people from being hurt, that's all.

    Please don't jump to conclusions about someone without know the relevant information first. It really says more about you than anything else.
 
  1. Ace Frehley from Vancouver, Canada writes: Joanne Johnston: save it. If the man had a shred of decency and honour he would show some respect for the victims and for the judicial system and TESTIFY.

    It's a little rich for anyone who is defending this guy to admonish the world not to "jump to conclusions". That's exactly what he and his band of fellow zealots did to completely ruin a bunch of innocent lives.

    His silence is speaking volumes on his part. It's not like he doesn't have the opportunity to present his side of the story here. So, yeah, his refusal to do so leads us to assume that his story is indefensible.

    So spare us the woe on his behalf, eh?
 
  1. JR W from Ottawa, Canada writes: Perry Dunlop should never have spent a day in jail. He stood up for people who couldn't find the strength to do so themselves, and was run out of Cornwall (my home town) for it. And now he is being villified by the same institutions he was up against when Project Truth was undertaken.

    Perry Dunlop is a hero. A real Canadian hero. He did not spread false allegations, he helped scared and scarred victims come forward to fight a virtually unbeatable element. It doesn't make sense that he is the one serving jail time.
 
  1. M Irwin from New West, Canada writes:
    Whether he has faith in the justice system or not, he chose jail by default for refusing to testify. How is he being "screwed"? I can sympathize with his family and frustrations of being up against the 'machine' of that 'old boys club', but it is still his choice in refusing to comply with the court order. He took a chance and made the decision, live with it.
 
  1. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: It would seem to me that if he has issues with the justice system he would be better served going on record with those issues during a public inquiry..... rather than wasting away in jail to prove a point.
 
  1. Paul Byer from Canada writes: Joanne Johnston from Canada writes: Well Paul Byer, you don't know what you are talking about, that much is clear.

    ....................................................................

    And Joanne Johnston from Canada, if you could prove what is truth and what isn't, you would be called as a witness also. Since you haven't expressed that and I haven't seen your name being called, I assume that you are spouting heresay, conjecture and rumours, not evidence. If you have evidence that you are concealing, then you belong in the same category as one who refuses to testify and belong in the same place. I do know from experience that it is easier to stand up and tell the truth than lay back and pretend it didn't exist. What other conclusion can be drawn from this than what is? Testifying under oath is a far cry from spouting unproven allegations and moving to the other side of Canada hasn't worked. So be it if that is what he so desires. He has made his own bed. And you?
 
  1. Gardiner Westbound from Canada writes:
    Canada does not have a justice system. The legal system is persecuting Perry Dunlop because he had the temerity to say out loud what many believe. How many first offenders are sentenced to hard time like Dunlop?

    Judges in Canada are appointed because they or their law firms have paid large sums of money to the party in power, or have personally worked diligently for the party in power.

    I pray I am never called for jury duty. I could not accept direction from a well-connected groupie and would probably wind up in the slammer next to Dunlop.
 
  1. michael mccartan from timmins, Canada writes: I believe the reason for his stants are simple.

    The Truth does not matter in the justice system...

    What does is how well you can lie........................

    And who in gods name would want to participate in a system That support The Explaition of childen

    Canadian Justice System is a Fraud Just Ask a Judge if the truth matter and then watch what what he or she does. Fraud Fraud Fraud Fraud Fraud Fraud Fraud.......
 
  1. J Law from Canada writes: Pedophile! To be looked upon as a Pedophile by others when you are not is a undeserved shame that no innocent man should ever have to endure. To see your best friends put themselves between you and their children even though you have never even thought of ever hurting anyone, especially a child, must be something that would make strong people contemplate suicide.

    Though the courts have not found any proof of their guilt we have no idea if the people this police officer pointed out are guilty or not. Neither does anyone else besides the people indicated. Therefore these people will always live with the stigma of pedophile attached to their name rightly or wrongly because a police officer would not go to court.
 
  1. joe blow from in the north, Canada writes: Such such misinformed people - my GOD!!!

    Can anyone NAME me someone Perry Dunlop accused...please!!!

    The victims alledged sexual improprieties against certain members of the Cornwall elite and named them...and Perry Dunlop assisted these victims in bringing their allegations forward to various authorities. However, Perry Dunlop never named anyone!!! Who specifically did he ever accuse and when & where he name anyone???
 
  1. Misery No one from Angus, Canada writes: Why were comments on the deaths of those young boy soldiers suppressed so fast? Seems it's hard to be heard any more.
 
  1. trish kolk from fox valley, Canada writes: To be informed in this case please go to www.theinquiry.ca read everything you can about who is who and what is what before all you people who condemn perry dunlop go any further. The man has been falsely imprisoned. And especially note that they would not let the victims testify and the one that did got destroyed on the stand
    Read for yourselves. Perry is an honourable man. NOthing else needs to be said
Posted 04/09/08 at 12:03 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
 
  1. Don M from Canada writes: This is the result of the people at the top having too much power. He will pay the price for all the higher achy that have the power and make his testimony worthless.
    Good for him for standing his ground but very sad.
 
  1. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: Meanwhile the only thing all the lawyers hear is, cha-ching!
 
  1. Carol Crocker from Brampton, Canada writes: As a person who has been through the justice system when I made a complaint against my brother-in-law for sexually abusing me from the age of at least 5 until 15 I can appreciate the intricate balance between knowing what was done to me for all those years and having a court process end in a conviction. My offender pled guilty. Some of my family members who supposedly loved me for all those years turned on me and made my life at the time a living nightmare. I was not and am not a revengeful person. I just wanted him to not do to others what he did to me. Too late, though! In 2000, he was convicted again of sexually abusing a niece and this time he did time in prison. When the crown asked if I wanted to make recommendations on his sentencing I suggested that he go into a rehabilitation centre for sexual offenders. It didn't happen though he got 6 weeks with a psychologist. What I'm trying to say to you all is that as a person going through the system victims are pretty much on our own. I thank God for the police officer who did my investigation. He was absolutely wonderful. He stuck with the facts and I truly am amazed at what he actually did discover about my offender during his research. He actually spent a year in jail the year I was born for sexually assaulting a girl and stabbing her. Back then it was called Carnel Knowledge. These cases are pretty complicated. The fallout can be quite devastating to all involved but, we also have a mandatory reporting law regarding child sexual abuse. It is up to investigating officers to do all they can to gather information and present it to the crown attorney who then must decide if there is enough evidence to file the charges. Victims, investigating officers are just a piece of the process. I, personally, am very sorry to see Terry Dunlop and his family suffering so much for doing what he had to do in the course of carrying out his duties and obligations under our criminal code. Thank you for listening. Carol Crocker
 
  1. joe blow from in the north, Canada writes: OH YOU WHO.... MARGARET....MARGARET???

    When are we going to hear from you again?

    I'm waiting for Wente to spring into action and make it all...right! HMPH!