Magpies 'furious' at rape case naming

Collingwood club president Eddie McGuire has labelled radio rival Neil Mitchell a
"self-important windbag" and a "media crusader" after the talkback host leaked the
names of players questioned over an alleged rape investigation.
No charges have been laid but a police investigation is continuing after a young
woman said she was raped at a South Melbourne home on Sunday morning.
The two players have been questioned by police but it is not known if they are
potential suspects or witnesses.
"It is damn well irresponsible," McGuire said on radio station Triple M on Thursday.
"Now, everybody knows and these players, their names, their reputations, their
families, possibly even the case that's up before them has now been prejudiced by
outside media influence for no other reason than a blatant grab for ratings and
notoriety."
Collingwood lawyer David Galbally QC said naming the players had placed them in a
position of guilt.
"That is not the true position," he told the Ten Network.
Victoria Police cautioned that Mitchell's program could become part of a police
investigation if the players' names were leaked by its own officers.
Mitchell defended the leak, saying the names were widely known on the internet and
people in the public eye should expect to be named when investigations are underway
- regardless of whether charges are ever laid.
"I think it needs to be done in the name of fairness but I may well make enemies by
doing it," he said on Fairfax Radio, adding that he believes releasing the names
also protects other Collingwood players.
News Ltd's The Australian newspaper earlier this week reported that the alleged
victim is a 20-year-old university student who told police she felt intimidated and
pressured by a group of men who had sex with her.
Mitchell's decision to broadcast players' names has also angered the AFL, the
players' association and civil liberties advocates.
Players' association chief executive Matt Finnis called on media organisations to
avoid jumping to conclusions based on unproven allegations.
"This is about saying all members of society are entitled to the protection of their
privacy, their reputation and due process," he told reporters.
He pointed to the experience of footballer Brendan Fevola who was named in the media
while a Queensland Police investigation - which has since been dropped - was still
underway.
The AFL has backed the Magpies, saying the club had fully co-operated with police.
The two players have voluntarily given statements and deny any wrongdoing.
Liberty Victoria president Michael Pearce SC said police never released names of
those involved in the early stages of an investigation and for anyone to do so was
overstepping the mark.
"I don't think the fact that they are footballers who have just played in a
premiership should warrant departure from normal practice - it's very unfortunate,"
Mr Pearce told AAP.
Victoria Police has offered no comment on the progress of its sexual assault
investigation.



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