AU- Taxpayers could foot Dennis Ferguson's compensation payout

9-19-2008 Australia:

TAXPAYERS may have to fund a compensation payout to accused pedophile Dennis Ferguson if a pensioner who ran him out of town fails to cough up the money.

The Ipswich District Court today ruled Mr Ferguson was entitled to $2,200 after a mob, led by pensioner Noel Watterson, confronted him outside his Ipswich home and threatened to kill him.

Judge Deborah Richards ordered Mr Watterson, an invalid pensioner, to make financial reparations for the confrontation, which forced Mr Ferguson to flee the city, west of Brisbane, in February 2005.

But Mr Watterson - who pleaded guilty later that year to one count of making threats - today told reporters he did not have the money.

If he is unable to pay, responsibility to pay the compensation would fall to the state government.

But Acting Premier Paul Lucas today said there were no guarantees that taxpayers would foot the bill.

“If a compensation application is made to the state, the state will assess all the circumstances, including whether there has been a need for us to make payments (on Ferguson's behalf) in the past,” he told reporters.

In her findings, Judge Richards said Mr Ferguson was entitled to compensation regardless of his character.

“The scheme was introduced to ensure compensation for all victims of crime,” she wrote.

“It does not provide that compensation be awarded only to victims who are good citizens.”

Judge Richards said Mr Ferguson was suffering post traumatic stress disorder after repeatedly being the victim of vigilante attacks.

However, she opted to award Mr Ferguson far less than the $11,000 he had claimed because it could not be proved how much the Ipswich incident had contributed to his disorder.

Mr Lucas said the case should serve as a warning to the public not to resort to vigilant behaviour.

“Time and time again we said to people do not take the law into your own hands,” he said.

“This is an example of someone doing a vigilante act and now the consequences are that Dennis Ferguson’s got a compensation order.” ..News Source.. by AAP