A policewoman left for dead after a drug addict savagely hit her on the head with a brick has pleaded with the parole board to keep the “animal” who attacked her behind bars.
Sergeant Samantha Barlow was on her way to work in Sydney’s busy Kings Cross in 2009 when she was attacked by Roderick Holohan, who fractured her skull, nose and injured her neck.
Holohan was sentenced in 2010 to 21 years behind bars for the savage attack, but appeared in the Sydney West Magistrates Court on Thursday for a hearing on his possible release on parole.
Nearly 15 years after the brutal attack, Sgt Barlow told media outside court that her attacker could “go and have a great life somewhere and stay away from everyone” but “clearly can’t follow any laws.” .
“I hope the parole board makes a sensible decision and I would like to feel protected and other female members of the state to feel safe and keep that animal locked up as long as possible,” she said.
‘It’s quite sad that he clearly can’t behave on the street, but he can’t even behave in prison. He continues to commit violent crimes in prison… It is clear that he does not know how to behave as a human being.’
Sergeant Samantha Barlow (left) was on her way to work in Sydney’s busy Kings Cross in 2009 when she was attacked by Roderick Holohan, who fractured her skull, nose and injured her neck.
Sergeant Barlow’s husband, Laurence Barlow, who supported his wife in court, described Holohan as a “coward” who had avoided looking at the couple during the two-hour parole hearing.
‘My wife is the third woman he has tried to kill. Do we keep doing it until I get four, five, six or 20 chances? “How many chances are enough?” Mr. Barlow said outside court.
Before taking the stand, Sergeant Barlow told the State Parole Authority and her attacker that she believed Holohan had “waived his right to parole” after beating her while she was already on parole.
“He hit me until I was unconscious. When he checked my bag and found out I was a sergeant, he came back and kept hitting me in the head until he thought he had killed me,” she said.
She went on to say: ‘So why are we even considering allowing him to return to the community we all live in?’ He ruined my life. I lost my career. I can’t smell or taste food and I never will.
‘I have been treated by a neuropsychologist for the last 15 years as a result of what he did to me. Surely he is not entitled to any kind of freedom until he has served 100 per cent of his sentence.’
Appearing before the parole authority, state Rep. Ghassan Kassisieh argued that Holohan should remain behind bars in lieu of possible “reclassification,” which would allow for incremental parole.
In reclassifying Holohan while in custody, Kassisieh said Holohan would be eligible for escort and temporary permission to venture into the community before the end of his sentence in four years.
He told the authority that Holohan was a “high risk of violent reoffending” and had allegedly committed crimes while in custody, including intimidation and having a weapon in his cell.
“Those are warning signs that the state would say should be given due consideration and consideration, and a more cautious approach can be taken at this time,” the representative said.
Kassisieh said the previous intention to grant parole had been based on the “practical support” Holohan would have received from the William Wilberforce Foundation, including accommodation.
But, he said, it has since emerged that, once released, Holohan would have only five days’ accommodation and, while he had previously committed to the foundation, he would not do so now.
Kassisieh admitted that Holohan had shown improvement in his behavior and argued that waiting to make the decision to grant him parole would allow him to “make good” on that improvement.
Sergeant Samantha Barlow told media outside court that her attacker could “go and have a great life somewhere and stay away from everyone” but “clearly can’t follow any laws.”
For his part, Holohan’s attorney, Bill Agha, told the parole authority that his client had completed all custody programs while behind bars and had “reduced the amount of misconduct while in custody.”
While admitting Holohan had no family or community ties in Sydney if released, Agha argued Holohan needed extended supervision on parole, not incremental release.
“Any more time in custody will only increase his institutionalization. Whether there is an incremental release plan or not, he needs that support,” Mr Agha told the Authority.
Agha told the Authority that Holohan came from a significant disadvantage and had spoken to the Wilberforce Foundation and recognized they were a route to future employment.
The parole authority reserved its ruling, which will be pronounced at a later date.
Sergeant Barlow was walking to work in Sydney’s busy nightlife district when her skull was shattered, her nose broken and her neck injured in the brutal and savage attack.
Holohan admitted to the attack and was sentenced for it and for two separate offences; an attempted robbery of a woman in Sydney the previous night and the robbery of a woman in Wollongong.
During the hearing, Holohan was heard muttering frequently, even after claiming that he had refused drug treatment. When the hearing was adjourned, he said ‘you (sic) are joking’.
Outside court, Sergeant Barlow described Holohan as an “animal” who should not be eligible for parole, and her husband, Laurence, claimed the safety of the community was at risk.