THE victims of Maurice Van Ryn and their families say claims by the self-confessed child abuser’s defence that he should be granted leniency due to prison overcrowding are “outlandish” and should be dismissed.
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At a sentence hearing in Sydney District Court on Friday, Van Ryn’s barrister, John Heazlewood, argued that difficulties in accessing basic facilities and education programs should be taken into account in sentencing his client.
The argument has been soundly condemned by the community as well as the affected families who were in court on the day.
“We trust Judge Jeffreys will be completely dismissive of the argument presented by Van Ryn’s defence that overcrowded NSW jails should somehow result in reduced sentences for paedophiles,” a spokesperson for the families said after the hearing.
“We will not do such outlandish claims any justification by even attempting to argue the opposite point.”
The spokesperson also said the families were shocked at what they perceived to be the way child sexual assault victims are treated in the eyes of the law in NSW.
They said they were “horrified to learn that the deemed severity of the sexual offending is lessened as the child approaches the age of 16”.
“Let us be very clear on this matter - Van Ryn has pleaded guilty to raping multiple children.
“Rape is rape.
“It matters not the age or sex of the victim.
“In fact, the rape of a child would be perceived by most well-thinking people as a more severe crime - without wishing to diminish the awfulness of rape in matters of adult victims too.
“Having already seen the removal in law of nonsensical arguments that adult rape victims somehow ‘asked to be raped’ we now demand that the Attorney General of NSW also include the removal of such antiquated concepts in her proposed reforms of child sexual assault legislation.
“Unfortunately for our children, any such future changes will not impact upon the sentence that Van Ryn will receive.
“However, if there is any good that comes from the tragedy that has befallen our children and our families, it is that a light has been shined upon the inequities and challenges that child sex assault victims face in NSW, and provides an opportunity to improve the situation for those that follow behind.”
Van Ryn returns to court on September 9 where he is due to be sentenced.
“We trust that Judge Jeffreys will actually see the totality of Van Ryn’s offending and pass a sentence that meets today’s community expectations,” the spokesperson said.
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