The Snitch: Will 2025 bring answers on Alan Jones, Jarryd Hayne, Stuart MacGill and the DPP?

Which barrister will Alan Jones hire? Will the DPP’s war with District Court judges end? And will Gareth Ward make it through his trial without doing anything weird? The Snitch is here.

With the new year upon us and the state’s courts set to open, it’s time for The Snitch to gaze into its crystal ball to examine the burning questions for 2025.

1. WHICH SILK/S WILL ALAN JONES HIRE?

At 83 years old and with a net worth in the vicinity of a squillion dollars, you can bet broadcaster Alan Jones will throw the kitchen sink at defending historical allegations of sexual touching.

Jones has hired solicitors from Chris Murphy’s firm, but all eyes are now on which barrister, or barristers, Jones will hire.

Snitch is guessing he will go all in on two silks.

Alan Jones arriving at court last month. Picture: Nikki Short

The retired shock jock is facing 34 charges relating to alleged indecent assault and sexual touching incidents spanning two decades.

At his first court appearance last month, Jones said: “ I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge.”

We would also presume that Murphy will assist in guiding Jones on which barrister to use.

Police are yet to serve the brief of evidence but Snitch reckons Jones will have a silk or two pouring over it when they do.

2. WILL SALLY DOWLING’S WAR AGAINST THE BENCH END?

The war between the state’s chief prosecutor and a number of judges will continue in 2025.

As a short recap, Ms Dowling’s office was heavily criticised by two judges who accused it of running rape trials that were doomed to fail.

The DPP fired back and had complaints upheld against the judges by the state’s judicial watchdog.

But then it emerged that Ms Dowling dragged one of the judge’s personal lives into her complaint, which claimed he could have been influenced by his current and ex girlfriends — both judges.

One of those judges then complained about the reference to their private life to the professional body for barristers and asked it to examine whether Ms Dowling is a fit and proper person to be practising law.

DPP Sally Dowling SC. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Stuart MacGill. Picture: Simon Bullard

3. WHAT WILL BECOME OF STUART MACGILL?

It’s a make or break year for cricketing legend Stuart MacGill.

The ex-Test spinner will stand trial after pleading not guilty to setting up a 1kg cocaine deal.

When that finishes he will step into the District Court witness box to be the star witness against the men who have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping him over a failed cocaine deal.

It is likely to be a torrid spell for MacGill.

4. WILL THE ANOM CHALLENGE AMOUNT TO ANYTHING?

About 50 alleged organised crime figures were sweating on the outcome of a High Court challenge to what was dubbed “the Sting of the Century”.

The challenge was an attempt to exclude evidence collected by police via so-called encrypted phones that were planted with alleged crime figures to record them allegedly arranging high-level illegal activity, like drug importation.

But then the government rushed through legislation to cut off the challenge.

They are now examining a challenge to the legislation.

5. JARRYD HAYNE’S CIVIL CASE

Rape charges were discontinued against ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne, but he is still being sued by the complainant.

The civil suit is rumbling through the NSW Supreme Court after being brought by the woman who claimed she was raped by Hayne on Grand Final night in 2018.

Jarryd Hayne after his charges were discontinued in 2024. Picture: John Appleyard

On a separate note, will Hayne ever pursue the $780,000 he alleges was stolen from him in jail by motormouth conman Ishan Sappideen?

It hasn’t been reported to the police who say they can’t investigate until they have a complaint from an alleged victim.

6. KAREN WEBB’S MEDIA JOB

The NSW Police Commissioner is still without a fully stocked spin team after her last hiring attempt blew up into a PR disaster.

We’re told Ms Webb is in the interview stages for hiring.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Gareth Ward in state parliament.

7. WILL GARETH WARD GET THROUGH HIS TRIAL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING WEIRD?

Ward’s trial, where he has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old in 2013 and a 27-year-old in 2015, is due to start this year.

If a jury finds him not guilty, it might spell the end of a bad run of PR for Ward.

Gareth Ward outside parliament at 4am on morning in July.

Just before Christmas, a parliamentary committee cleared Ward after he was caught on security cameras trying to enter parliament in boxer shorts and a T-shirt at 4am in July.

In 2017, Ward was the victim of an extortion attempt in his New York hotel room by two men who demanded $1000 after he had ordered a “standard massage” for $100 online.

They still love him down in Kiama.

He won the seat as an independent in the 2023 election.

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