Noel McNamara

Noel John McNamara (born 12 January 1938) is an Australian campaigner for victims of crime and outspoken critic of the Australian justice system. In 1993 Noel established the Crime Victims Support Association (CVSA) with his wife Bev McNamara^{[citation needed]}. The association is politically involved and lobbies the government on criminal law reform and greater support for victims of crime^{[citation needed]}.

McNamara frequently airs his views in the Australian news media^{[citation needed]}. His 'hardline' approach to crime often conflicts with the views and actions of civil libertarians, the parole board, members of the legal profession and judges^{[citation needed]}. Noel advocates harsher jail sentences for people convicted of murder, rape, pedophilia, culpable driving and other violent crimes^{[citation needed]}. He also advocates the abolition of minimum sentences within the penal system, the abolition of double jeopardy laws and the abolition of crimes compensation payments to the families of murdered criminals.^{[citation needed]}

Noel was outraged after his eldest daughter Tracey McNamara was brutally murdered in 1992 and the killer only received a 10 years minimum jail term^{[citation needed]}. Since that time Noel has actively supported victims of violent crime and often personally attends court cases on behalf of victims. His motto is, “To make justice a right, not a privilege.”^{[citation needed]}

Once a year, Noel hosts The Flight of Angels memorial service on the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne for victims of homicide and culpable driving^{[citation needed]}.

Both Noel McNamara and Beverley McNamara received the Order of Australia (Companion) Medal in 2004 for service to the community, particularly through the Crime Victims Support Association Victoria^{[citation needed]}.

In 2008 Noel initiated an ultimately unsussessful campaign to have the Victorian Attorney-General, Rob Hulls, review the laws of Double Jeopardy (where once a person is acquitted in a criminal trial, he or she can never be prosecuted again for the crime despite new evidence, confessions, or even a proven miscarriage of justice in the original trial)^{[citation needed]}. This was in light of the fact that reform has already taken place in the other Australasian jurisdictions of South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand^{[citation needed]}.

References

• [1]Plea for new laws for killer drivers
• [2]Outrage over Melbourne gangland murder site radio stunt
• [3]Carl Williams parties on Facebook
• [4]Ned Kelly's bones spark outrage among victims
• [5]Victims' support group wants tougher sentence for grandmother basher
• [6]Families offered $500 each for costs of attending trial
• [7]Brumby backs attack on rape case judge's words
• [8]Disqualified drivers back behind the wheel
• [9]Paroled granny killer straight back to prison
• [10]Only 3% of reported sex crimes punished
• [11]DPP appeals 9-year term for serial rapist
• [12]Thousands of criminals beat jail with apology
• [13]State cash for hero
• [14]Assaulted mother branded too 'articulate'for counselling
• [15]Jail again for 520 paroled criminals on crime sprees
• [16]DPP moots reforms to double jeopardy rulings
• [17]Retrial laws are courted
• [18]Serial rapist gets nine years
• [19]Why? Mum's plea to husband
• [20]'Pumpkin' detectives blasted
• [21]Victims angry at sex priest jail term
• [22]Expert training and diet advice at gym for prisoners
• [23]Harry M hired 'because of media pressure'
• [24]Douglas family defends agent signing
• [25]Shooting suspect surrenders to police
• [26]Child sex criminals to be listed on the internet
• [27]Call for sacking over massacre video release
• [28]Gang widows carve up compo as 'victims'
• [29]Moran memoirs upset victims of crime
• [30]Victims of crime: We can't generate any help
• [31]Triple murderer's sex change bid 'a ploy'
• [32]Redemption in words
• [33]Victim groups push to curb predator
• [34]Victim hits child sex term
• [35]Rights charter to empower crime victims
• [36]Child sex criminals to be listed on the internet
• [37]Torture acceptable, says former NCA chief
• [38]Selective human rights Mr Hampel?
• [39]Anger over killer's sex change bid
• [40]Call for ban on murder movies
• [41]Council to rule on sex sentences
• [42]Nguyen Tuong Van funeral furore
• [43]Lie tests to beat rapists
• [44]Murder sites bus tour dumped
• [45]Halfway house's prime site
• [46]The full honours list (OAM 2004)
• [47] High Risk Offenders: Post-Sentence Supervision and Detention (PDF)
• [48]Library defends Chopper painting purchase

External links

• Crime Victims Support Association
• DoubleJeopardyReform.Org

See also

• Crime
• Crime in Australia
• Crime in Melbourne

Persondata
Name	Macnamara, Noel
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Date of birth	12 January 1938
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