Police officer wins payout after almost 50 years

A former Australian detective is to receive compensation almost 50 years after being driving out of the police force when he tried to bring a paedophile priest to justice.

As a detective in the 1970s, Denis Ryan tried to charge Monsignor John Day with sexual offences in the regional city of Mildura. However, he was blocked by senior officers and ordered to drop the case. Mr Ryan blamed the decision on his superiors’ “allegiance” to the Church.

Now almost 50 years after he was ordered by superiors to drop the case – and deprived of a police pension – Mr Ryan will receive compensation. The 86-year-old was recently awarded an undisclosed sum by the state government of Victoria.

Day did not face police charges before his death in 1978.