Ex-cop jailed 30 days for contempt 

Toronto Sun 

04 September 2008 

By SAM PAZZANO, COURTS BUREAU 

A former Cornwall cop who refused to testify at a public inquiry into child sex abuse was given another 30 days in jail to consider changing his mind.

The bearded and bespectacled Perry Dunlop was given the additional sentence yesterday for criminal contempt for disobeying a divisional court order to testify.

Dunlop, 46, will finish his half-year civil contempt jail sentence today for his constant refusal to answer questions at the judicial inquiry probing allegations of an organized pedophile ring in eastern Ontario in the 1990s.

SCORNS SYSTEM

The inquiry is expected to hear evidence for the rest of this year, but not from Dunlop, who has repeatedly maintained that he won't testify because he has no faith in the justice system.

"We cannot ignore the seriousness of this offence. He flagrantly and publicly refused the (divisional) court's order," said Madam Justice Katherine Swinton in passing sentence for his criminal contempt, which will run consecutive to the six-month civil term.

Citizens cannot ignore laws and court orders at their "whim because in their mind it is the right thing to do," Swinton said.

Two dozen supporters gave Dunlop a standing ovation each time he was escorted into the Osgoode Hall courtroom in handcuffs and cheered him as he was ushered out to start his last sentence.

'ABSURD' STAND

"He has presented himself as a victim, almost a martyr, saying his refusal to testify is necessary to protect children," said David Humphrey, a defence lawyer hired by the Crown. "That position is an absurd one. "

Dunlop launched an investigation in 1993 into an alleged pedophile ring that supposedly involved prominent members of the community including police, priests and civic leaders.