Former Cornwall cop released from jail

ctvottawa.ca  

Updated: Sat Oct. 04 2008 17:37:01

Former police officer Perry Dunlop, the man who first raised suggestions of a child sexual abuse ring in Cornwall, is out of jail.

He served seven months for contempt of court for refusing to testify at the Cornwall inquiry, which he helped set in motion. The inquiry has examined how institutions failed to respond to allegations against the local Roman Catholic diocese and other prominent community figures. Dunlop refused to testify because of his loss of faith in the justice system.

His brother-in-law told CTV Ottawa that Dunlop was reunited with his wife Saturday.

As a member of the Cornwall police force, Dunlop began looking into an alleged pedophile ring -- one that supposedly involved senior civic officials, clergymen and other police officers -- on his own time in 1993.

A provincial police investigation led to 114 charges against 15 men.

Ultimately, only one person was convicted. Four died before their cases came to trial, four were acquitted, four had the charges against them withdrawn, and two had the charges against them stayed over delays.

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

With a report from The Canadian Press  

Ottawa Sun

Last Updated: 4th October 2008, 2:31am

By MEGAN HARRISON, SUN MEDIA

CORNWALL -- Perry Dunlop is going home.

While Sun Media has confirmed he is set to be released from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre today, Dunlop's family is keeping mum on the whole occasion.

Helen Dunlop, who has previously organized public rallies, barbecues and town hall meetings to draw attention and create support for her husband, refused to comment on the fact that he will be gaining his freedom after spending more than six months in jail for a criminal contempt-of-court charge.

"This is a private family matter, I have nothing to say to you," she said before hanging up the phone.

Dunlop was arrested in March after he disregarded a court order to appear at the Cornwall Public Inquiry, which is looking into the institutional response to allegations of a sex abuse ring that allegedly involved police officers, priests and civic leaders.

SNUBBED ORDER

Dunlop conducted his own investigation into the alleged ring in the early 1990s. Eventually, the OPP laid 114 charges against 15 men. Only one was ever convicted, and police claimed they found no evidence of a pedophile ring.

The former officer has said repeatedly that he has lost faith in the Cornwall Police Service and the provincial justice system, which is why he left the city and refused to testify at the inquiry.

Others surrounding the Dunlops also offered few details about Perry's release.

It is believed the Dunlop children have remained at the family home in Duncan, B.C.

"It's way, way overdue," Dunlop's brother-in-law Carson Chisholm, who lives in St. Andrews West, said of the release.

SEX-ABUSE RING ALLEGATIONS

 Ex-officer jailed for refusal to testify to be freed today

Toronto Globe & Mail

The Canadian Press

October 4, 2008 

OTTAWA -- A former police officer jailed for refusing to testify before a public inquiry into child-sex abuse in Eastern Ontario was slated for his first taste of freedom in seven months today.

Perry Dunlop was due for release from his Ottawa cell after having served full sentences for civil and criminal contempt convictions.

"The entire community is just waiting for him to come home and me and my girlfriends are making signs," his 18-year-old daughter, Marlee Dunlop, told CJUL radio in Cornwall, Ont. "It's going to be a riot when he gets back."

Mr. Dunlop was instrumental in sparking the judicial inquiry looking at how long-standing allegations of a sexual abuse in the Cornwall area were handled.

Despite his key role, he refused to testify at the inquiry, thumbing his nose at repeated requests and court orders to do so, saying he had lost faith in the justice system.

Supporters claim he is the victim of a system determined to cover up an organized ring of child sexual abuse and view him as a hero.

"It's way, way overdue," said Mr. Dunlop's brother-in-law, Carson Chisholm, who lives in the Eastern Ontario community of St. Andrews West. "Never should have been put in, obviously."

In September, Mr. Dunlop was sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal contempt of court, having already served six months for civil contempt. He told the court he meant no disrespect by ignoring the judge's order and only had an issue with the Cornwall public inquiry.

Had Mr. Dunlop reversed his decision while serving the six-month term and agreed to give evidence at the inquiry, he could have been released. He refused.

The sentence for the criminal conviction did not carry that option, and he was compelled to serve the full 30 days.

As a member of the Cornwall police force, Mr. Dunlop began looking into an alleged pedophile ring - one that supposedly involved senior civic officials, clergymen and other police officers - on his own time in 1993.

A provincial police investigation led to 114 charges against 15 men.

Ultimately, only one person was convicted. Four died before their cases came to trial, four were acquitted, four had the charges against them withdrawn, and two had the charges against them stayed over delays.

Toronto Sun

Last Updated: 4th October 2008, 2:31am

By MEGAN HARRISON, SUN MEDIA

CORNWALL -- Perry Dunlop is going home.

While Sun Media has confirmed he is set to be released from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre today, Dunlop's family is keeping mum on the whole occasion.

Helen Dunlop, who has previously organized public rallies, barbecues and town hall meetings to draw attention and create support for her husband, refused to comment on the fact that he will be gaining his freedom after spending more than six months in jail for a criminal contempt-of-court charge.

"This is a private family matter, I have nothing to say to you," she said before hanging up the phone.

Dunlop was arrested in March after he disregarded a court order to appear at the Cornwall Public Inquiry, which is looking into the institutional response to allegations of a sex abuse ring that allegedly involved police officers, priests and civic leaders.

SNUBBED ORDER

Dunlop conducted his own investigation into the alleged ring in the early 1990s. Eventually, the OPP laid 114 charges against 15 men. Only one was ever convicted, and police claimed they found no evidence of a pedophile ring.

The former officer has said repeatedly that he has lost faith in the Cornwall Police Service and the provincial justice system, which is why he left the city and refused to testify at the inquiry.

Others surrounding the Dunlops also offered few details about Perry's release.

It is believed the Dunlop children have remained at the family home in Duncan, B.C.

"It's way, way overdue," Dunlop's brother-in-law Carson Chisholm, who lives in St. Andrews West, said of the release.

Globeandmail.com

The Canadian Press

October 3, 2008 at 6:24 PM EDT

OTTAWA — A former police officer jailed for refusing to testify before a public inquiry into child-sex abuse in eastern Ontario was slated for his first taste of freedom in seven months on Saturday.

Perry Dunlop was due for release from his Ottawa cell after having served full sentences for civil and criminal contempt convictions.

“The entire community is just waiting for him to come home and me and my girlfriends are making signs,” his daughter Marlee Dunlop, 18, told CJUL radio in Cornwall, Ont.

“It's going to be a riot when he gets back.”

Dunlop was instrumental in sparking the judicial inquiry looking at how long-standing allegations of a sexual abuse in the Cornwall, Ont., area were handled.

Despite his key role, he refused to testify at the inquiry, thumbing his nose at repeated requests and court orders to do so, saying he had lost faith in the justice system.

Supporters claim he is the victim of a system determined to cover up an organized ring of child sexual abuse and view him as a hero.

“It's way, way overdue,” Dunlop's brother-in-law Carson Chisholm, who lives in the eastern Ontario community of St. Andrews West.

“Never should have been put in, obviously.”

In September, Dunlop was sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal contempt of court, having already served six months for civil contempt.

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

Had Dunlop reversed his decision while serving the six-month term and agreed to give evidence at the inquiry, he could have been released. He refused.

The sentence for the criminal conviction did not carry that option, and Dunlop was compelled to serve the full 30 days.

As a member of the Cornwall police force, Dunlop began looking into an alleged pedophile ring — one that supposedly involved senior civic officials, clergymen and other police officers — on his own time in 1993.

A provincial police investigation led to 114 charges against 15 men.

Ultimately, only one person was convicted. Four died before their cases came to trial, four were acquitted, four had the charges against them withdrawn, and two had the charges against them stayed over delays.

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

1. L B from Canada writes: welcome home,I would have done the same thing,, justice system is a bit warped, it needs lots of changes, but not in my live time.
• Posted 04/10/08 at 12:10 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment

 TheStar.com (Toronto Star online)

Oct 03, 2008 04:57 PM

 THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA–A former police officer jailed for refusing to testify before a public inquiry into child-sex abuse in eastern Ontario was slated for his first taste of freedom in seven months Saturday.

Perry Dunlop was due for release from his Ottawa cell after having served full sentences for civil and criminal contempt convictions.

"The entire community is just waiting for him to come home and me and my girlfriends are making signs," his daughter Marlee Dunlop, 18, told CJUL radio in Cornwall, Ont.

"It's going to be a riot when he gets back."

Dunlop was instrumental in sparking the judicial inquiry looking at how long-standing allegations of a sexual abuse in the Cornwall, Ont., area were handled.

Despite his key role, he refused to testify at the inquiry, thumbing his nose at repeated requests and court orders to do so, saying he had lost faith in the justice system.

 He was arrested at his home in Duncan, B.C., in February amid a blaze of orchestrated publicity.

Supporters claim he is the victim of a system determined to cover up an organized ring of child sexual abuse and view him as a hero.

"It's way, way overdue," Dunlop's brother-in-law Carson Chisholm, who lives in the eastern Ontario community of St. Andrews West.

"Never should have been put in, obviously."

In September, Dunlop was sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal contempt of court, having already served six months for civil contempt.

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

Had Dunlop reversed his decision while serving the six-month term and agreed to give evidence at the inquiry, he could have been released. He refused.

The sentence for the criminal conviction did not carry that option, and Dunlop was compelled to serve the full 30 days.

As a member of the Cornwall police force, Dunlop began looking into an alleged pedophile ring – one that supposedly involved senior civic officials, clergymen and other police officers – on his own time in 1993.

A provincial police investigation led to 114 charges against 15 men.

Ultimately, only one person was convicted. Four died before their cases came to trial, four were acquitted, four had the charges against them withdrawn, and two had the charges against them stayed over delays.