Accused war fraud has case adjourned for 23rd time

AN ACCUSED war fraud who has spent more than two years trying to dodge a criminal case against him has had the matter adjourned for the 23rd time.

Neville Donohue

AN ACCUSED war fraud who has spent more than two years trying to dodge a criminal case against him has had the matter adjourned for the 23rd time.

“Major-General” Neville Donohue claims he is a decorated war veteran now in his 45th year of behind-the-scenes military operations.

Yet he appears too scared to go into battle in his fight against police, who have charged him with a string of deception-related offences.

The case is now in its 29th month and is believed to be one of the longest-running matters of its type in Victorian legal history.

In that time “Major-General” Donohue has used a raft of excuses to delay the matter, including claiming he was dying and telling a magistrate he had just weeks to live.

He has also explained absences from court by claiming he was on “special military duty” and on one occasion this year just didn’t show up, sparking a warrant for his arrest.

At Ringwood Magistrates’ Court today, Mr Donohue wasn’t asked for any excuse to secure his 23rd adjournment.

Instead, magistrate John Bolster commented that there was a note on Mr Donohue’s file and that the matter would be put off until November.

Just last week another magistrate, Peter Mealy, told Mr Donohue the case was to proceed today without excuse.

“These matters have been dragged out unmercifully,” he told him.

Magistrate Mealy also told Mr Donohue he should get together any evidence to support his various excuses as he was likely to be interviewed by police investigating possible perjury.

But despite the stern warning, Mr Donohue’s hearing today was over in seconds.

Mr Donohue was charged with falsely claiming to be a veteran, and wearing medals to which he was not entitled, after photos of him wearing four rows of military medals on his chest went viral on veterans’ forums in 2013.

He is facing 17 charges, including seven counts of impersonating a Commonwealth public official, deception ­offences relating to employment and driving offences.

Mr Donohue, who denies any wrongdoing, told the Herald Sun he was in his 45th year of military service and service to associated paramilitary government organisations.

“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,” he said.

“When I do finally get to court with this, it will be in a closed session.”

Originally published as Accused war fraud has case adjourned for 23rd time