Former barrister Shane Noel Tyrell struck off after sending child rape images to cop

A former barrister who defended slain underworld killer Carl Williams has been struck off and registered as a sex offender after he sent child rape images to an undercover cop.

County Court. Matthew Johnson murder trial. Carl Williams' barrister Shane Tyrrell.

An ex-cop and barrister who defended slain underworld killer Carl Williams has been struck off as a solicitor and registered as a sex offender after he sent child rape images to an undercover cop.

Shane Noel Tyrrell, from Cedar Vale in Logan, has now had his name removed from “an interstate roll” - believed to be the Victorian roll - after the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal found him guilty of misconduct on July 3.

The striking off of the 68-year-old comes after he was convicted of the distribution and possession of child exploitation material in the Beenleigh District Court on June 22, 2022.

He was sentenced to a suspended nine months in prison for the distribution and three months for possession of the material.

He sent a South Australia undercover police officer an image of a child aged between nine and 13 being raped by a man, after he answered her advertisement claiming to be a 37-year-old mum of two daughters aged six and 12 who “likes taboo”.

“I love to watch boys and girls f---ing. Yes I like both” he stated in an online message to the undercover cop.

Police found four photos and a video depicting child exploitation material in his home in February 2021.

Tyrell had acted for Melbourne gangland figure Carl Williams.

Tyrrell whose most infamous former client was convicted gangland murderer Williams, told the tribunal that he regretted taking up the offer from the undercover police officer in 2021 and that his “interaction” was not with “a real person” and his actions “were essentially self abuse”.

“I know I should not have interacted with the advertisement. I’m simply saying that if the police weren’t fishing, I could not have taken that bait,” Tyrrell told the tribunal.

“What would have happened in the absence of the participating police’? My crime occurred in my own quiet ‘home’, alone and anonymous,” he told the tribunal.

But Supreme Court Justice Paul Freeburn, sitting as a QCAT member, concluded that Tyrrell lacked introspection, and understanding of the gravity of child exploitation material crimes.

“His remorse appeared to be more directed to remorse that his offending was uncovered rather than genuine insight,” he wrote.

“Mr Tyrrell’s question “What would have happened in the absence of the participating police?” is beside the point. Mr Tyrrell’s conduct, whether discovered or not, gave support to an insidious industry,” Justice Freeburn wrote.

“Mr Tyrrell’s conduct, in all the circumstances, has demonstrated that the community cannot have confidence that he is a fit and proposer person to practice as a lawyer. It follows that Mr Tyrrell cannot be endorsed as a fit and proper person, and will likely remain such in the indefinite future,” Justice Freeburn stated.

“Mr Tyrrell characterises his conduct as a “fall from grace”. That is, to say the least, an understatement,” he wrote.

The state’s Legal Services Commissioner submitted to the tribunal that Tyrrell’s place on both the sex offender’s register and the on roll of solicitors “are somewhat at odds which each other”.

Tyrrell, who was a previously a captain in the Australian Army and a Victoria Police officer, and a criminal defence barrister in Victoria, is on the sex offender’s register until 2027, the court heard.

He has not held a practising certificate since 2016, but joined the Victorian Bar in 2002, the tribunal heard.

He unsuccessfully argued that he wants to keep his right to work as a lawyer so that he can work in the environment side of the law in future.

He is studying a PhD in climate change, he told the tribunal.

He claimed he was depressed when he sent the image and his mental health is now improving.

Originally published as Former barrister Shane Noel Tyrell struck off after sending child rape images to cop