Jail guard alleged to have had sex with cop killer prisoner broke code of conduct not the law
A COP killer and a female guard who were alleged to be having sex in prison were under surveillance for more than a month before Corrective Services suspended the officer and transferred the prisoner to Goulburn Supermax.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A COP killer and a female guard who were alleged to be having sex in prison were under surveillance for more than a month before Corrective Services suspended the officer and transferred the prisoner to Goulburn Supermax.
Corrective Services are powerless to charge prisoner Sione Penisini, who shot dead police officer Glenn McEnallay in 2002, or the guard with any criminal offence.
“It is not a criminal act but it is a breach of the code of conduct,’’ Corrective Services Minister David Elliot said yesterday.
The Daily Telegraph understands the minister’s office is now looking at ways to make sex between prisoners and staff a criminal offence.
The NSW Police Association has attacked Mr Elliott and Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin after Radio 2GB announcer Ray Hadley revealed on Monday that Penisini was having sex with prison guard Amy Connors while he was in maximum security at the Mid-North Coast correctional centre at Kempsey.
“If Elliott and Severin were doing their jobs, every cop killer would be rotting away in Supermax,’’ Police Association president Tony King said yesterday.
“It’s a direct slap in the face of every officer, all of us who have worn the blue shirt.”
The woman was suspended on Friday and escorted from the prison and has since tried unsuccessfully to resign.
It is understood the department wants to complete its investigation before possibly sacking her.
It follows another incident earlier this year when another female officer was sacked for having sex with a prisoner at the department’s training centre Brush Farm at Ryde.
Mr Elliott is also going to visit the Kempsey jail next Monday to see where it is alleged Penisini, who was jailed for 36 years for the police officer’s murder, is alleged to have assaulted another prisoner earlier this month.
“I have been appalled by the alleged inappropriate behaviour and I appreciate it has caused concern for police officers and loved ones of Senior Constable Glenn McEnallay,” Mr Elliott said yesterday.
“Today I spoke to Mr McEnallay’s mother, Judy, and expressed my sincere regret and apologised to her.
“It is clear this inmate should never have been alone with a junior female officer. I am keen to see what options we could implement to ensure this is never allowed to happen again.
“Anyone who engages in an inappropriate relationship with an inmate has let down thousands of hardworking correctional officers.”