The ex-NSW premier Kristina Keneally’s police officer son has collapsed with relief after not going to jail for making a false statement that resulted in an activist being wrongfully imprisoned.
Daniel Keneally, who had earlier been found guilty of falsifying evidence, was given a 15-month intensive correction order at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.
Despite the prosecution’s plea for Judge Rodney Brender to sanction full-time imprisonment, the intense correction order was put into place.
In addition, the 35-year-old was mandated to pay a $2000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service.
In a statement he submitted, Keneally made many false claims about a call Luke Brett Moore made to the Newtown police station in February of 2021.
Following the statement, which included allegations that Moore intended to kill a police officer, the activist was taken into jail and detained for three weeks.
Following the release of the ISuepolice founder on bail, the charge was withdrawn since his phone recording of the conversation was preserved.
The recording, which was made without Keneally’s knowledge, revealed notable differences between the officer’s account and the recording.
Paul McGirr, Keneally’s attorney, requested an intense punishment order be issued during the December sentencing hearing in order to keep his client out of jail.
According to the prosecution, Keneally ought to serve a prison sentence in light of the seriousness of the offence.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission’s investigation resulted in Keneally’s charge in October 2022.
The police watchdog promised to provide a report to the NSW legislature upon the conclusion of the criminal case.
