‘Corrupt’ Daryl Maguire defends conduct, blasts media after ICAC report

Daryl Maguire has accused the media of spooking ‘valuable horses’ after ICAC found that the ex-MP engaged in serious corrupt conduct | FULL STATEMENT

Gladys Berejiklian with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

Daryl Maguire has defended his actions after the NSW anti-corruption watchdog found the disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP engaged in serious corrupt conduct in a bizarre statement full of typographical and formatting errors that accuses the media of intimidating his business clients and spooking “valuable horses”.

Hunt & Hunt lawyers released a statement on behalf of Maguire on Monday that said the former MP’s legal advisers were continuing to review the findings of an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The statement lists Maguire’s achievements as the elected parliamentarian for Wagga Wagga, including projects that ICAC found former state premier Gladys Berejiklian had breached public trust by failing to disclose her relationship with the disgraced MP.

“Let it not be forgotten that during his [Maguire] time representing the people of Wagga and region he worked tirelessly for his constituents,” read the statement.

“Indeed he was described in evidence as a dog with a bone, a vociferous advocate for the electorate or a pain in the arse when it came to getting improvements for the Wagga electorate.”

Maguire last week was found to have engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” between 2012 and 2018 by running a “cash for visas” scheme, using company G8wayInternational to avoid disclosure rules, misusing his role as an MP to advance his financial interests and misusing his office in relation to sale or development of land.

Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was found by ICAC to have breached public trust by failing to disclose her secret relationship with Maguire when exercising her official functions in awarding $5.5million to the Australian Clay Target Association and making decisions concerning the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.

Both organisations are in Maguire’s electorate.

In a paragraph beginning with “Media . !!”, Mr Maguire accused the media of invading he and his family’s privacy as well as stalking a young woman and the “harassment of employees and intimidation of clients of his business operations”.

“There have been three traffic collisions caused by media doing unsafe u turns in front of oncoming cars, parking unsafely, speeding and following young women to their work at 5am on at least two occasions,” said the statement.

“Of particular concerns [sic] is a [registration number] stalking, unsafe u turns [sic], speeding, Mitsubishi triton VIC rego [registration number] parking unsafely and illegally flying Drones [sic] above rural agistment property contrary to regulations, which in turn spooked the valuable horses, again raising concerns from agistees.”

Maguire’s lawyers said the continued presence at the disgraced former MP’s property would be unsafe and illegal.

“We ask in all reasonableness, that you desist from your appalling behaviour towards these young people and your unsafe reckless activities,” said the statement.

“The presumption of innocence is the foundation of our legal system and should be respected by all.”

The report details how Mr Maguire, from 2012, a year after the Coalition’s election win, “embarked on a course of conduct by which he sought to enrich himself by exploiting his position as a member of parliament”.

Maguire had of about $1.6m debts in 2017 and his communications with Ms Berejiklian contained in the ICAC report suggest his motivation for most of his development dealings was to clear those debts.

Mr Maguire resigned from the Liberal Party in July 2018 when ICAC unveiled phone tap recordings in which he asked that development applications made by a “mega big” client be approved quickly. The following month he resigned from parliament.