Dunlop won't testify about Cornwall case

Former officer avoids talking in pedophile inquiry

National Post

04 September 2008

Shannon Kari

Perry Dunlop has apparently managed to avoid testifying at a public inquiry in eastern Ontario into allegations that a ring of pedophiles existed in Cornwall dating back more than four decades.

A spokesman for the Cornwall Public Inquiry said yesterday after Dunlop was sentenced to another 30 days in jail for a criminal contempt conviction that it no longer will try to have the former police officer to testify.

Dunlop has already spent more than six months in custody after he was convicted of civil contempt charges for refusing the inquiry's order to testify. The criminal contempt charge was filed when he also ignored court orders last fall.

Dunlop has been in "open, continuing and flagrant disobedience" of court order, said Justice Katherine Swinton on behalf of a two-judge Ontario Divisional Court panel.

David Humphrey, who represented the Ministry of the Attorney-General, told the court that Dunlop effectively had a "get out jail card" and could have reduced his civil contempt sentence if he agreed to testify.

In a somewhat rambling submission, Dunlop again repeated his claims that he has been made a "scapegoat" by high-ranking officials in the justice system who are out to protect pedophiles.

The former Cornwall police officer conducted his own investigation in the mid 1990s and claimed it was stonewalled by superiors.

Dunlop stated that he did not mean to disrespect the court when he ignored its orders.

"To put it in the best words of Perry Dunlop, my beef was with the Cornwall Public Inquiry. I wouldn't get a fair shake from them," Dunlop said.

"I don't want the focus to be the Perry Dunlop trial. I want the community to heal," said Dunlop, who was dressed in a jail issued orange jumpsuit with much longer hair and a bushy beard, compared to his clean-cut appearance in February when he taken into custody.

About two dozen supporters gave the defendant a standing ovation each time he was brought into court.

Dunlop moved with his family to British Columbia in 2000, but said he intends to return to Cornwall someday to help the community.

The former officer spoke of the dehumanizing and over-crowded conditions in Ontario jails and said he has been forced to shower next to "notorious pedophiles" while in custody.

"I don't know anyone who could endure what I have endured," said Dunlop.

He spoke of a "corrupted justice system" that takes a man away from his family who simply wanted to protect children. Dunlop was permitted to show a picture of his daughters to the two judge panel as part of his arguments as to why he should be released from jail immediately.

Dunlop's refusal to testify was "absurd" if his goal is to help children who may have been abused, said Mr. Humphrey.

"He wants to avoid being subject to rigorous cross-examination."

After Dunlop came forward with his allegations, the Ontario Provincial Police conducted an investigation that led to charges in 1998 against 15 men.

Only three cases made it to court. One man pleaded guilty to attacks on 10 young men. Two other accused committed suicide.

The Cornwall Inquiry is expected to continue hearing from other witnesses for at least two more months.

"The only thing we are missing is Mr. Dunlop's evidence," said commission counsel Pierre Dumais. "We have moved on."

skari@nationalpost.com 

Criminal contempt for cop in pedophile inquiry

Shannon Kari

Toronto -- A former eastern Ontario police officer will have to spend another 30 days in jail after he was convicted of criminal contempt for repeatedly refusing court orders to testify at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. Perry Dunlop has already spent more than six months in custody as a result of a separate conviction for civil contempt for ignoring earlier orders by the inquiry to testify.

A two-judge panel of the Ontario Divisional Court said Dunlop would normally receive another three months in jail, but the sentence was reduced because of the hardship to his family and the fact he has been in protective custody as a former police officer.

Dunlop came forward in the mid 1990's to allege there was a widespread ring of pedophiles in Cornwall and that his own investigation was stonewalled by police as well as the Ministry of the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General.

An Ontario Provincial Police investigation called Project Truth resulted in charges in 1998 against 15 men. Only three cases made it to court. One man pleaded guilty to 12 attacks on 10 young men. Two other accused committed suicide.

The provincial government called the Cornwall Inquiry to probe the allegations and the institutional response to the claims of widespread abuse.

Dunlop, who resigned from the Cornwall police in 2000 and moved with his family to British Columbia, insisted the inquiry was set up to "crucify" him and stated that he had no faith in the justice system. In a somewhat rambling submission to the two-judge panel Wednesday, Dunlop said he had no criticism of the court and its sentences for the civil and criminal contempt.

"To put it in the best words of Perry Dunlop, my beef was with the Cornwall Public Inquiry. I wouldn't get a fair shake from them," Dunlop told the court.

"I don't want the focus to be the Perry Dunlop trial. I want to community to heal," said Dunlop, who was dressed in a jail issued orange jumpsuit with much longer hair and a bushy beard, compared to his clean cut appearance in February when he taken into custody.

The former officer has written a 110-page account of his investigation several years ago. He has said he won't testify because he is unwilling to be cross-examined by lawyers at the inquiry.

Dunlop also spoke at length about the past six months in custody, the unsanitary and overcrowded conditions in provincial jails in Ontario and the hardship he has endured.

"I have been housed next to notorious pedophiles and forced to use the same shower," said Dunlop. He compared jail to "torture" because of the conditions. "The places I have been in, would probably break most people in five hours," said Dunlop.

About two-dozen supporters gave Dunlop a standing ovation each time he was brought into court. Many of them wore a bumper sticker that said "free Perry Dunlop" affixed to their clothing.

The former officer's wife Helen Dunlop said outside court that her husband would never testify at the inquiry because the "fix is in" and it is set up to protect institutions that should have done more to protect victims of abuse.

The lawyer representing the Ministry of the Attorney-General had asked for an additional three to six months in jail for the criminal contempt conviction. David Humphrey said Dunlop had his own "get out jail card" if he had been willing to testify. Instead, he was "thumbing his nose" at the inquiry.

The Cornwall Inquiry continues to hear testimony from other witnesses. A spokesman for the inquiry said it would no longer seek to have Dunlop testify.