Van Ryn was due to appear before Judge Jeffreys in the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney on June 17 to learn of his sentence for multiple counts of child sexual abuse, for which he pleaded guilty late last year.

While all media outlets are bound by law to not reveal the identities of child victims and their families, new legislation allows them to request to photograph or film a district court judge during the handing down of a sentence.

Given the conflict between those interests, one could rightly assume the media outlet filming the judgement would edit the footage before broadcasting, so as not to identify the victims or any other details of the case under a court-imposed suppression.

However, Judge Jeffreys ruled against the request, for the reason “Part 5 of the District Court Act 1973 does not apply”.

After being made aware of the decision, the victims’ families got in touch with the Bega District News and made the following comments.

“The victims, and the families of the victims, were never consulted about this application by the media. 

“We were not asked to provide to the court our preferences or desires on the matter. 

“We were advised by a representative from the Department of Public Prosecutions at the Downing Centre Courts on April 21 that the application to videotape the judge’s decision was a fait accompli and no-one from the victims’ side raised any objections to this likely outcome. 

“So it is with some surprise and disappointment that we learn that Judge Jeffreys has dismissed the application. 

“We understand only too well the importance of protecting the identity of the child victims of Maurice Van Ryn. 

“However, it is our understanding that the Judge would be equally bound by the requirements of the court to protect their identities, and this could be achieved by prudent wording of his sentencing decision. 

“The person who is most protected by not having the sentencing decision videotaped and broadcast is the perpetrator of these crimes against children, Maurice Van Ryn. 

“By televising the judge’s decision, the true extent and depth of his offending would be made widely available to the general public.

“Yet again, as from the start of this case, Van Ryn is protected from public scrutiny.” 

The families said they were also concerned that in a number of recent cases of child sexual assault, the sentencing decisions of Judges do not meet community expectations. 

“The televising of judges’ sentencing decisions, especially in cases of child sexual assault, provides an opportunity for the judiciary to be put under a higher degree of public scrutiny than may otherwise be the case. 

“The victims and their families would therefore support any application by the media to appeal the decision of Judge Jeffreys with regards to the videotaping and broadcast of his sentencing decision in the matter of Crown v Maurice Van Ryn.”