‘Relentless voice for justice’: Premier’s tribute to Denis Ryan ahead of his funeral

A former detective who was forced out of the police force over his attempts to investigate child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has been remembered by Jacinta Allan as someone who “never wavered in his commitment to uncover the truth”.

Hero detective Denis Ryan died last week. Picture: Jessica Shapiro

Jacinta Allan has paid tribute to hero detective Denis Ryan who died last week, more than 50 years after he was stopped from trying to crack down on sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church.

Ahead of his funeral on Thursday, the Herald Sun can reveal Ms Allan spoke with Mr Ryan’s widow, Bev, on Wednesday to pay her respects to the 93-year-old former cop.

Mr Ryan was stopped from trying to crack down on sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church. Picture: Jessica Shapiro

“Denis Ryan was a relentless voice for justice,” Ms Allan said.

“Despite deep personal sacrifice, he never wavered in his commitment to uncover the truth – or protect the vulnerable.

“His legacy endures as a beacon of courage and unshakeable resolve.

“On behalf of every Victorian, I extend my heartfelt condolences to everyone who loved him – and everyone he helped feel heard.”

Jacinta Allan said Mr Ryan’s legacy endures as a beacon of courage and unshakeable resolve. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Mr Ryan sensationally quit his career in policing after senior officers foiled his investigation into prominent Mildura priest Monsignor John Day in the early 1970s.

Despite interviewing 12 alleged victims he was told to drop the case and Day was never charged.

Ryan blamed a “Catholic Mafia” he said had infiltrated Victoria Police and was working to protect predator priests.

He later received formal apologies, and compensation, from Victoria Police and the state government.

In a submission to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Ryan said he was told not to pursue Catholic priests.

He said he was told: “you don’t charge priests or you will be in more trouble than enough. You don’t pick fights that you can’t win, and you don’t charge a priest short of murder.”

Ryan told the Royal Commission he had lived with decades of regret over police’s handling of the Day investigation.

“Hardly a day goes by that I don’t think of the police force and what they did to the kids who were the victims of Monsignor Day,” he said.

“Those children were being mentally and physically destroyed by Day and the police protected him. “

Day died in 1978.

Originally published as ‘Relentless voice for justice’: Premier’s tribute to Denis Ryan ahead of his funeral