‘Major-General’ Neville Donohue guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice
A FAKE war hero “Major-General’ Neville Donohue is behind bars for faking doctored a hospital letter to a court claiming he was dying of cancer and had just weeks to live.
Law & Order
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A FAKE war hero who told a court he was about to die of cancer has been jailed for the lies he told trying to dodge criminal charges for almost four years.
“Major-General” Neville Donohue, 66, of Wantirna was found guilty of 18 charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice.
The medal-festooned “wannabe” claimed he was a decorated Vietnam War veteran who continued to serve the nation in more than four decades of behind-the-scenes military operations.
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In truth, Donohue spent just six years in the army and never served in Vietnam.
In the longest-running matter of its type in Victorian legal history, Donohue used a litany of lies to delay answering federal charges against him, with his cases adjourned at least 25 times.
He was initially charged with falsely claiming to be a veteran, and wearing medals to which he was not entitled, after photos of him decked out like a North Korean general with four rows of military medals on his chest went viral on veterans’ forums and networks.
Donohue was photographed “reflecting on the Anzac and Australian spirit” in front of almost 200 people at the Mount Dandenong Anglican Parish Anzac Day service in 2013.
In 2014, the Herald Sun revealed he told a magistrate he was dying of cancer and had just weeks to live.
Magistrate Marc Sargent said he had received a letter from The Alfred stating Mr Donohue had terminal cancer and would soon be placed in palliative care, with his death expected in months.
A Herald Sun investigation found no record of a physician matching the name on the letter, which was a fraud.
Donohue explained other court absences by claiming he was on “special military duty” and on one occasion just didn’t show up, sparking a warrant for his arrest.|
When confronted by the Herald Sun Donohue said: “I didn’t earn my decorations in the normal fashion, as in day-to-day military service. I earned them in behind-the-scenes service.
“When I do finally get to court with this, it will be in a closed session.”
Donohue spent four months in jail and was ordered to pay about $37,000 restitution after last year dropping an appeal against 30 charges after being warned by Judge Geoffrey Chettle that he had got off lightly.
Those charges related to deception, falsely purporting to be a returned service person, impersonating a Commonwealth official, wearing medals without entitlement, and driving while suspended.
In the County Court last week Donohue was convicted of 18 more charges — four counts of perjury, three of attempting to pervert the course of justice and 11 of making a false document.
He was remanded in custody to be sentenced later this month.
Donohue’s prior convictions date back to 1998, when he was put on a good behaviour bond for defrauding the Commonwealth.
ACCUSED WAR FRAUD HAS CASE ADJOURNED FOR 23RD TIME
WANNABE WAR HERO SENTENCED FOR CLAIMING TO BE A MAJOR GENERAL