Man charged over fatal collision on harbour

Police have charged Percy Small but not Matthew Reynolds the person who allegedly stole the boat that fatal night on Sydney Harbour?

POLICE have charged Percy Small, the man allegedly driving the boat that was in a collision with a fishing trawler in Sydney Harbour earlier this year killing six young people.

Homicide officers arrested the 24-year-old former Sydney barman at a house in Sippy Downs, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, yesterday afternoon.

He was taken to Maroochydore police station and charged with six counts of dangerous navigation occasioning death and driving a boat with a mid-range blood-alcohol content, in accordance with the Marine Safety Act.

He was refused bail and is due to appear today at Maroochydore Magistrates Court, where NSW homicide squad detectives will apply to have him extradited.

Small's family would not discuss the arrest last night.

The arrest is the culmination of an eight-month investigation by detectives in the homicide squad's coronial investigation team, who have been assessing whether charges should be laid over the May 1 crash.

The people who died in the crash were mother-of-two Ashlei Ayres; Jessica Holloway; Stacey Wright; Alexander Rumiz; Elizabeth Holder; and Alexandre Nikakis.

The seven-metre half-cabin runabout allegedly driven by Small was initially reported as having been taken without the knowledge of its owner, Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering, [by Matthew Reynolds.]

Although it was only authorised top carry eight people, 14 were aboard when the crash occurred.

The group allegedly had been drinking at a Balmain hotel on the night of April 30, and Matthew Reynolds had offered to take them for a cruise to Rose Bay and back.

The group made it safely to Rose Bay and at some point it is believed Small took control. Then, about 100 metres off Bradleys Head, the boat was in a collision with the fishing boat Jordon's as it was heading out to sea.

It is understood this is not the end of Strike Force Condor, formed to investigate the incident. Survivor Matthew Reynolds is still considered a person of interest by detectives. [If not why not?]

In August, Mr Reynolds said he was not responsible for the collision and was not behind the wheel of the overcrowded boat. "People need to remember that there were two boats involved that night. The front of their boat hit the side of ours," he said.

Yesterday evening his father, Charlie a [cruser tycoon in QLD], said his son did not want to discuss the arrest or crash. [No doubt as well as the fact that he and the publicans at the Balmain hotel have influence.]

"Whatever he says is never reported that way, so he's not saying anything," Charlie Reynolds said. [Actually not quite correct the corporate media have been reporting lies in his favour and trying to cover-up for him see links below;.

Updated 4:17pm (AEST)

Daily Terror Attacks Wrong Culprit

Percy Small crash skipper on 'coke, dope, booze' FORMER cocktail barman Percy Small was under the influence of a mixture of cocaine, cannabis and alcohol when skippering the runabout that crashed on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six, court papers allege.

Who stole the boat? Then handed Percy Small the wheel? The driver of the vessle is the culprit why are they working on Small? Not enough money or influence. Matthew Reynolds the person who is accused of stealing the boat that fatal night on Sydney Harbour.

Can anyone imagine that they attended a Pub Staff Night Gone Wrong?

Then during the party were invited out on the harbour for a cruise by Matthew Reynolds who allegedly stole the boat. During the cruise one of the passengers somehow or another ends up with the steering-wheel and then the boat hits another boat.

Firstly, it is hard to believe that Reynolds did not have a drink or something. He was hospitalised after the accident 'was his indulgence covered up’? The reason is because it's also hard to believe that the police took 8 months to lay a charge.

Why? Because Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering reported the boat stolen and reiterated that the boat had been stolen.

1) Why would police not act on this information?

2) Why would Percy Small the invited guest be charged and not the person who was, at all material times, the skipper of the vessel, whether he handed over the wheel to someone else during the journey, or not.

3) Hence did police accurately do a drug and alcohol test on Matthew Reynolds and could they cover that up as well?

Questions for the coroner I would have thought.

4) Why was there no coroner’s inquest into the accident?


Related:

Harbour revellers speeding before impact
Amongst other things, like theft and drunken driving, there are dangerous driving charges - occasioning 6 deaths on Sydney Harbour.

Crash survivor won't get on a boat
Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

Crash skipper named in police cover-up
Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

Harbour crash 'driver' goes to police
Police "too busy" to question possible driver of boat in fatal harbour crash. Matthew Reynolds, the 31-year-old originally thought to be at the helm of the runabout which collided with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six people, attended Tweed Heads Police Station today.

Boat safety laws overhauled
The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.



Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Harbour revellers speeding before impact

Amongst other things, like theft and drunken driving, there are dangerous driving charges - occasioning 6 deaths on Sydney Harbour.

THE runabout that collided with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six young revellers on board, was speeding when the collision occurred, independent tests have shown.

[Also reported were drunk revellers who allegedly stole the boat that was subsequently reported stolen by, Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering and the company who owned the boat reiterated that fact to the Sydney Morning Herald on more than one occasion.]

As detectives enter their 'seventh month' [?] of investigations, a series of tests and re-creations by the Office of Transport Safety Investigations shows the runabout - allegedly driven by the bartender [Matthew Reynolds and now] Percy Small - was travelling at 12 knots (22kmh), a source close to the office has told the Herald. That is two knots over the established limit.

Longstanding marine regulations state a vessel must travel under 10 knots when passing within 30 metres of another craft.

The tests also showed the fishing boat, Jordon's, was not exceeding the 10-knot speed limit.

[But what if the runabout was stolen (reported by the Herald) and the drivers were drunk or on drugs? Reported by the Herald to have come from a pub staff night gone wrong.]

The tests will form part of the police brief of evidence given to the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, helping prosecutors to decide whether to charge anyone over the crash.

The homicide squad's coronial investigation team is investigating whether anyone is to blame for the crash on May 1.

[Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?]

It occurred when the two-man fishing boat heading out to sea and the runabout with 14 people aboard collided about 2.30am off Bradleys Head.

Six people on the runabout died as a result of the crash.

The Herald has previously reported that charges against two people on the runabout - Percy Small and Matthew Reynolds - are possible. Mr Reynolds, 31, took the boat out for the night, but Mr Small, 24, was allegedly driving it when it collided with Jordon's, which was being driven by Peter Evans.

Mr Evans returned to work in the past fortnight. "We've seen him a couple of times only," said a commercial fishing boat skipper at the Sydney Fish Markets.

"He's just getting back into it, getting used to being on the water again. I mean, he didn't do anything wrong, but it's still a horrible thing to know you were involved in six deaths."

Jordon's is also back in working condition, and can be found moored during the day to a pier at the Sydney Fish Market.

Neither Mr Small nor Mr Reynolds has consented to a police interview, but Mr Reynolds recently agreed to nominate who was driving the boat when it crashed. It is understood he said the driver was Mr Small.

At least one of the pair could face a charge of dangerous driving occasioning death if the Director of Public Prosecutions decides to prosecute.

Police are understood to be seeking a second opinion from a marine expert. Once that is complete, an announcement about any prosecution is expected.

As well as the speeding tests, prosecutors will consider whether both boats were properly lit and if their skippers were driving safely and paying attention.

Six people died as a result of the crash: Mr Reynolds's girlfriend, Ashlie Ayres, a mother of two; Jessica Savanna Holloway, a social worker; Stacey Wright, a bar worker; Alexander Rumiz, a bar worker; Lizzie Holder, a hairdressing apprentice; and Alexandre Nikakis, a Balmain local.

The seven-metre half-cabin runabout, a former navy diving vessel, was initially reported as having been taken without the knowledge of its owner, Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering, and as carrying 14 people although it was authorised for eight.

[If police can ensure that there was no negligence i.e. no wrongdoing on the part of those in the runabout, who it is alleged may have been responsible for the six deaths, then Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering may also claim that the runabout was [not] stolen after all, and after the fact, that they previously had reported it stolen and then reiterated that report in the Sydney Morning Herald on more than one occasion.]

The group had been drinking at a Balmain pub on the night of April 30, and Mr Reynolds had offered to take them for a cruise to Rose Bay and back.

The group made it safely to Rose Bay and at some point it is believed Mr Small took control.

Then, about 100 metres off Bradleys Head, the boat collided with the Jordon's as it was heading to sea to begin its fishing run.

Quote: If anyone is interested this tragedy has been covered-up not only by the NSW Police Force but also News Limited and the Sydney Morning Herald News Papers. Some of the facts have been distorted and twisted by them including who stole the boat, switching drivers to find an alleged sober driver and what state these party revellers were in when they left the wharf. Read the links there are witnesses to the events that they are trying to cover up. Obviously the people they are covering up for are in high places and can even command the NSW Police Force for a Green Light. Just who are these people?

Related:

Crash survivor won't get on a boat
Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

Crash skipper named in police cover-up
Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

Harbour crash 'driver' goes to police
Police "too busy" to question possible driver of boat in fatal harbour crash. Matthew Reynolds, the 31-year-old originally thought to be at the helm of the runabout which collided with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six people, attended Tweed Heads Police Station today.

Boat safety laws overhauled
The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.



Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Crash survivor won't get on a boat

Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

THE water has always been a big part of Mathew Reynolds life - fisherman, charter operator, diver, water sports, movie shoots and skippering million-dollar cruisers.

But after the Sydney Harbour boat tragedy that killed six of his friends on May 1, the 31-year-old has revealed he will never return to the water again.

Mr Reynolds, whose father Charlie is a charter boat operator at Tweed Heads, said yesterday: "I am sorry for the loss we have all been put through."

The veteran skipper with a clean maritime record was a passenger and not at the helm of the runabout on the tragic night. He hit back at claims that with 14 people on board a boat licensed to carry eight, it was on a joy ride.

"The night in relation to the accident was not a party cruise, we were not out lairising," said Mr Reynolds, who has appeared in maritime safety ads in Queensland.

He said they were on the Harbour to drop off keys and paper work from the staff at Balmain's Commercial Hotel.

Mr Reynolds' girlfriend, mother-of-two Ashlie Ayres, was among those killed in the accident.

Also killed were Lizzie Holder, Stacey Wright, Savannah Holloway, Alex Nikakis and Alex Rumiz.

Police last month sent a brief of evidence on the accident to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Related:

Crash skipper named in police cover-up
Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

Harbour crash 'driver' goes to police
Police "too busy" to question possible driver of boat in fatal harbour crash. Matthew Reynolds, the 31-year-old originally thought to be at the helm of the runabout which collided with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six people, attended Tweed Heads Police Station today.

Boat safety laws overhauled
The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.



Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Crash skipper named in police cover-up

Who stole the boat that was subsequently overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and unlicensed? Now you don't have to be a policeman to work that out do you?

POLICE investigating the collision on Sydney Harbour that killed six young people in May have asked for charges to be considered against a bartender, Percy Small, in a brief of evidence handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions on Friday.

After an investigation of 2½ months, police yesterday said that Mr Small was allegedly driving the runabout when it collided with a fishing trawler.

Mr Small, 24, had worked at the Commercial Hotel, Balmain, with other crash survivors.

It is understood a charge of dangerous driving occasioning death is possible.

[If you read the links though, police switched skippers replacing Mr Small with Matthew Reynolds who stole the boat and skippered it from the wharf, overloaded, unregistered, uninsured, and obviously unlicensed. The question is was he drunk or affected by drugs?]

However, now Mr Small who it is alleged has refused to do a formal interview with police over the crash, which occurred early on May 1.

Contacted through his family yesterday, he refused to comment on the investigation or who was driving the boat when the crash occurred.

It is understood he has told police he was not driving the boat.

Mr Small was part of a group that climbed aboard the runabout at Darling Street wharf, Balmain. They had planned to take the boat to Watsons Bay and back but collided with the trawler Jordon's just off Bradleys Head about 2.30am.

At first attention focused on Matthew Reynolds, 31, who had taken [stolen] the runabout out for the night. While he has also refused to be interviewed by police, he recently agreed to nominate who he says was driving the boat when it crashed.

It is believed he nominated Mr Small.

The Homicide Squad's coronial investigation team is allegedly awaiting several biomechanical reports on the injuries sustained by those on the runabout.

The types of injuries and their locations will [allegedly] help police establish where each person was on the boat when the accident occurred, and if that matches their statement.

The DPP's office confirmed that it had received a "partial" brief but was still waiting for more evidence, believed to be the biomechanical tests.

The DPP will [allegedly] assess the evidence [given to them by police] before giving police advice on whether a prosecution is likely to succeed.

Related:

Harbour crash 'driver' goes to police
Police "too busy" to question possible driver of boat in fatal harbour crash. Matthew Reynolds, the 31-year-old originally thought to be at the helm of the runabout which collided with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six people, attended Tweed Heads Police Station today.

Boat safety laws overhauled
The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Identity of crash boat skipper cover-up

Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

MATTHEW REYNOLDS who was seen skippering a stolen boat, taken without the owners permission, that left a wharf at Balmain in Sydney with 14 people in party mode and then crashed killing 6 people, has now told police he was not driving the runabout when it collided with a fishing trawler on Sydney Harbour.

Some said they could not understand the decision to pile into a small boat built for eight people. "I don't know why they did it; I just wish they hadn't done it," said another friend of the victims.


Andre Ogle, from Russell Lea in Sydney's inner west, was fishing at Darling Street Wharf when he saw the runabout arrive between 1am and 1.30am.

He described the people on the boat as "a whole bunch of young people in party mode" and said a man who skippered the vessel away from the wharf said his name was "Matt". Mr Ogle confirmed May 7 2008, that Matt was at the helm when the runabout left the wharf. "Yes he definitely was," Mr Ogle said. "But the police have asked me not to make any more statements to the media."

The company that owns the runabout denied a statement by Mr Reynolds' lawyer that the 31-year-old had permission to use the boat. "Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering Pty Ltd confirmed on May 7, 2008 that its earlier statement that the boat involved in the accident was being used without authorisation or its knowledge,'' the statement read.

More than two months later, exactly what happened in the accident remains murky because police were too busy to find out. Mr Reynolds, 31, of Tweed Heads, was seen skippering the runabout early on May 1, when the two boats crashed near Bradleys Head killing five people and leaving another to die later in hospital.

A week after the crash his high profile father, Charlie Reynolds, told News Limited his son was not driving the seven-metre work boat at the time.

Fourteen people were on the runabout when it left its mooring in Balmain with Mr Reynolds at the helm. Mr Reynolds, went to Tweed Heads police station on Friday morning and gave a statement because the police were too busy.

He told them who he believed was driving the runabout at the time of the crash.

He has not undertaken a formal interview with police, and none has been scheduled.

His lawyer, Greg Walsh, said yesterday that he was unaware of any further interaction with police, and nor was Charlie Reynolds, who said it was up to police to contact his son if they wished to speak further to him.

A police spokesman said there was "every possibility" that they might need to speak again to a man he would identify only as a 31-year-old from Tweed Heads, but it depended on the course of the inquiry.

"They are still investigating," he said. "There may be a requirement to speak to him or clarify things with him."

It appears that the offence of skippering an overloaded stolen boat that then crashed killing six people doesn't seem to worry or concern the police.

Related:

Identity of Sydney harbour crashed runabout thief no mystery
Mathew Reynolds who was seen skippering a stolen boat taken without the owner’s permission, that left a wharf at Balmain in Sydney with 14 people and then crashed killing 6 people, has now told police he borrowed the runabout without permission before it collided with a fishing trawler on Sydney Harbour.

Police "too busy" to question possible driver of boat in fatal harbour crash We decided to help the police with their enquiry because they are overloaded with work. See witness statements chronology and timeline. Were blood tests done on the people to see if alcohol or drugs played a role in the tragedy? Overloaded stolen boat. Were the lights on? Did the boats smash into each other or did the stolen boat smash into the trawler? The boat was reported stolen. Therefore the boat was unregistered, uninsured and unlicensed. Did the police try to replace the skipper with a sober person? Why the delay in charges being laid? Are there special corporate interests to consider? Who is directing traffic? News Limited? The police? The Boys Club? All of them? None of them?

Harbour crash 'driver' goes to police
Seems clearly obvious police and the corporate media intend to cover-up for the publicans and high profile people in this case to the extent that facts will be changed or no interest shown. If you read the links the cover-up here is inescapable as the facts are changed and distorted. However if these people had been from Macquarie Fields those who broke the law would have been charged the day after the incident or as soon as they were released from hospital. It just depends on what class people come from and whom they know as well as the corporate media, pubs and cops work hand in hand to protect corporate and business interests.

Boat safety laws overhauled
The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Harbour crash 'driver' goes to police

Police "too busy" to question possible driver of boat in fatal harbour crash.

Matthew Reynolds, the 31-year-old originally thought to be at the helm of the runabout which collided with a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour in May, killing six people, attended Tweed Heads Police Station today.

Mr Reynolds, who said he was too ill to be interviewed by police in the days and weeks after the May 1 collision while he recovered in hospital, finally went to talk to investigators today.

But police were too busy to talk to him, his father says.

Mr Reynolds father Charlie said in May that his son was not steering the runabout at the time of the crash but did know who was.

He said at the time his son would not reveal the identity of the driver because of "legal implications".

Charlie Reynolds today said he drove his son to the police station this morning because police "wanted to ask him a question''.

"[Matthew] hasn't spoken to any police today, no,'' Charlie Reynolds said.

"They have got other work on, more pressing engagements.''

"A 31-year-old man this morning attended Tweed Heads Police Station as part of ongoing investigations into the fatal boat collision on Sydney Harbour in May," a police spokesman said.

"No arrests have been made, no charges have been laid and the investigation is ongoing."

Charlie Reynolds hit back at claims his son had not co-operated with police investigating the harbour tragedy, saying police only asked to see Matthew for the first time two days ago.

"[Police] called the day before yesterday to make an appointment, whenever they want something he will talk to them,'' Charlie Reynolds said.

"He hasn't been avoiding the police or anything. It's been total co-operation.''

The father said Matthew was recovering "slowly'' from injuries sustained in the crash.

Killed in the crash were Stacey Wright, 21, Alex Rumiz, 22, Mr Reynolds's girlfriend Ashlei Ayres, 32, US citizen Jessica Holloway, 25, Elizabeth Holder, 20 and Alexandre Nikakis, 30.

Quote: Seems clearly obvious police and the corporate media intend to cover-up for the publicans and high profile people in this case to the extent that facts will be changed or no interest shown. If you read the links the cover-up here is inescapable as the facts are changed and distorted. However if these people had been from Macquarie Fields those who broke the law would have been charged the day after the incident or as soon as they were released from hospital. It just depends on what class people come from and whom they know as well as the corporate media, pubs and cops work hand in hand to protect corporate and business interests.

Related:

Boat safety laws overhauled
The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Boat safety laws overhauled

Six people were killed in a crash on Sydney Harbour last month. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong..

The New South Wales Government has announced maritime safety laws will be overhauled, a month after six people died in a boat crash on Sydney Harbour.

Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi says the reforms include new penalties for dangerous behaviour and a compulsory practical component for aspiring boat skippers.

Mr Tripodi says the number of nights patrolled has increased from 6 per cent to 15 per cent in the past six months.

He says there are plans to increase that further.

"In times of heightened risk, for example New Year's Eve, there'll be more maritime officers out there patrolling the waterways," he said.

"It'll be a risk-based approach but what we have done already is increased the night patrols by 150 per cent."

NSW Maritime acting chief executive Steve Dunn says patrol plans are dictated by the time of year and weather conditions.

Mr Dunn says patrols cannot possibly cover the entire harbour, so extra services will not necessarily reduce the risk of fatal boat accidents.

"We would love to have patrols out there more often but obviously, we react to the perceived need of the risk that's facing us at a particular time," he said.

"We can't have a boating service officer on every headland so we put our resources where they are needed, when they are needed."

Related:

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?
Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Alcohol causes a quarter of boat deaths: study

A study into Australian boating fatalities has revealed that alcohol is behind more than a quarter of fatal accidents.

The study looked at boating fatalities between 1999 and 2004 when 241 people died in Australian waters.

It found that human error was behind nearly 75 per cent of those accidents, and that one in four victims had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.

Maurene Horder from the National Marine Safety Committee says the findings should serve as a warning to other boat users.

"it really is quite alarming and it's a bit of a wake-up call I think for all of us," she said.

Study launched

Meanwhile a nationwide study has been launched to test how boating accidents are linked with the amount of time recreational boat users spend on the water.

The study was unveiled at a maritime safety conference in Adelaide today, and will require about 4,000 volunteers across Australia.

Volunteers will be asked to keep a diary of their recreational boating habits over a period of 18 months.

Researchers will use the findings to help improve water safety.

Related:

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Support for booze public education
A SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy.

Message on a bottle for binge drinkers
BOTTLES of alcoholic drinks could soon carry graphic pictures warning of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption as part of the Federal Government's latest series of measures to cut down on under-age and binge drinking.

Boat tragedy: mystery over driver?

Three weeks after the Sydney Harbour tragedy, police have yet to establish who was driving the runabout that collided with a fishing trawler, killing six young people.

Officers attached to Strike Force Condor have spoken to the two people aboard the trawler Jordon's and the seven survivors from the runabout about the accident near Bradleys Head on May 1.

Detective Inspector David Laidlaw, who is heading the inquiry, said not all of them had been formally interviewed.

"We're still gathering evidence in relation to what people [were] doing," he said.

The lawyer for Matthew Reynolds, who [borrowed] the runabout without permission for the evening and survived the crash, confirmed his client had yet to be interviewed.

"I'm not aware that he has done a formal interview yet," solicitor Greg Walsh said.

"That's a police matter, I don't want to compromise their investigation," he said.

Police had initially said they were waiting for Mr Reynolds's condition to improve before interviewing him. At the time he was in a serious condition in hospital with several broken veterbrae but he left Royal North Shore Hospital two weeks ago.

The father of Jordon's skipper Peter Evans, Barry, said his son was "still a bit traumatised" by the crash, and had been unable to return to work because police still had possession of the boat.

He did not know when the boat would be returned.

"It will depend on the police and coroner when the boat is released," he said.

Related:

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Parents farewell Sydney harbour victim

Harbour victim Alex Rumiz, pictured on Facebook.

The last time Alexander Rumiz met his father was on April 30, barely two months after his 21st birthday and just two days before he died.

The two discussed a university essay and a trip they were preparing to the UK, where Alexander was going to drop samples of his music into some of the world's top nightclubs.

It was similar to a trip the family had planned years earlier for Alexander's older sister Liberty, when she was taken to New York for her 21st birthday to see the Statue of Liberty and later died while rafting in South America.

As the last of the six victims to be buried after the Sydney Harbour boat crash on May 1 was farewelled at a funeral service in Birchgrove today, Alexander's father said he would now be with the sister he so sorely missed throughout his childhood.

"I think he always missed [his sister]," Mr Rumiz said. "She was the sibling, ally and confidante that he missed, and also someone to help deal with his mum when he was in trouble".

More than 150 family and friends packed St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, where the service was held, with the crowd pouring out into the street to hear the eulogies.

Related:

Harbour crash victim 'a larrikin who loved life'


A woman who died in last week's boat crash on Sydney Harbour has been remembered during a funeral service in Sydney's north-west as a larrikin who loved life. 20-year-old Elizabeth Holder was one of six people who died when a runabout crashed into a fishing trawler off Bradleys Head a week ago. Hundreds of people packed the chapel at Macquarie Park Crematorium, in North Ryde, to hear eulogies by her sister and brother. The service opened with music from the Rocky Horror Show, and her sister Michelle told the gathering of her childhood love of the musical. "Lizzie was known for her warped sense of humour and individualist style," she said. She described the hairdresser as a female version of the typical Balmain boy. "Decorum and etiquette were not strong points for our Lizzie," she said. "Mum was often heard saying, 'All that money wasted sending you to that good girl school'."James Holder said he missed his sister's stories. He said they usually made him laugh, but the last story of her life made him cry and broke his heart. Ms Holder's friend Stacey Lee Wright, who also died in the crash, was farewelled at a funeral in Wollongong earlier this week. Investigations into the crash are continuing.

Boat victim 'Pondy' died but saved five lives


The mother of one of the victims of the Sydney Harbour boat tragedy has revealed at his funeral this morning that her son was an organ donor and his death had meant that five people's lives had been saved. Some 200 mourners attended the funeral this afternoon Alexander "Pondy" Nikakis. In a brief ceremony, Mr Nikakis's mother, Roberta, said her "vivacious and energetic" son had died as he had often been found in life - "surrounded by women". She said that because her son had been an organ donor, his death had meant that "five people's lives have been saved, and two people's lives have been changed for the better. "Some very lucky person now has the biggest heart in the world," she said. Like today's earlier funeral for Lizzie Holder, the ceremony was attended by six of the eight survivors of last Thursday's crash, in which six people died when a fishing trawler ran into a small runabout? Or [When the two boats collided. Or when the small runabout ran into the fishing trawler?] Outside the church, Michael Tsimnadis, said he did not know who was piloting the boat at the time of the accident. "I personally do not know - you can print that," he said.

Barmaid farewelled by harbour smash survivors


One of the victims from last week's boat accident on Sydney Harbour has been farewelled during a funeral service near Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast. Stacey Lee Wright had just finished working at a Balmain hotel when she accepted a joyride with friends on a runabout in the early hours of last Thursday morning. The 21-year-old was among six people who died when the boat collided with a fishing trawler near Bradleys Head. About 500 people have attended St John Vianney's Catholic Church at Fairy Meadow, north of Wollongong, to pay their last respects to the former Woonona High School student. They included a number of the crash survivors and many of Ms Wright's adopted Maori relatives. In a eulogy, partly given in Maori, Ms Wright was described as being happiest when she was with her mother. As her casket was carried from the church, relatives performed a traditional Maori haka. Ms Wright will be buried at Scarborough Cemetery this afternoon. Investigations into the accident are continuing.

Related:

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Support for booze public education
A SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy.

Harbour crash victim 'a larrikin who loved life'

A woman who died in last week's boat crash on Sydney Harbour has been remembered during a funeral service in Sydney's north-west as a larrikin who loved life.

20-year-old Elizabeth Holder was one of six people who died when a runabout crashed into a fishing trawler off Bradleys Head a week ago.

Hundreds of people packed the chapel at Macquarie Park Crematorium, in North Ryde, to hear eulogies by her sister and brother.

The service opened with music from the Rocky Horror Show, and her sister Michelle told the gathering of her childhood love of the musical.

"Lizzie was known for her warped sense of humour and individualist style," she said.

She described the hairdresser as a female version of the typical Balmain boy.

"Decorum and etiquette were not strong points for our Lizzie," she said.

"Mum was often heard saying, 'All that money wasted sending you to that good girl school'."

James Holder said he missed his sister's stories.

He said they usually made him laugh, but the last story of her life made him cry and broke his heart.

Ms Holder's friend Stacey Lee Wright, who also died in the crash, was farewelled at a funeral in Wollongong earlier this week.

Investigations into the crash are continuing.

Boat victim 'Pondy' died but saved five lives



The mother of one of the victims of the Sydney Harbour boat tragedy has revealed at his funeral this morning that her son was an organ donor and his death had meant that five people's lives had been saved.

Some 200 mourners attended the funeral this afternoon Alexander "Pondy" Nikakis.

In a brief ceremony, Mr Nikakis's mother, Roberta, said her "vivacious and energetic" son had died as he had often been found in life - "surrounded by women".

She said that because her son had been an organ donor, his death had meant that "five people's lives have been saved, and two people's lives have been changed for the better.

"Some very lucky person now has the biggest heart in the world," she said.

Like today's earlier funeral for Lizzie Holder, the ceremony was attended by six of the eight survivors of last Thursday's crash, in which six people died when a fishing trawler ran into a small runabout? Or [When the two boats collided. Or when the small runabout ran into the fishing trawler?]

Outside the church, Michael Tsimnadis, said he did not know who was piloting the boat at the time of the accident.

"I personally do not know - you can print that," he said.

Barmaid farewelled by harbour smash survivors



One of the victims from last week's boat accident on Sydney Harbour has been farewelled during a funeral service near Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast.

Stacey Lee Wright had just finished working at a Balmain hotel when she accepted a joyride with friends on a runabout in the early hours of last Thursday morning.

The 21-year-old was among six people who died when the boat collided with a fishing trawler near Bradleys Head.

About 500 people have attended St John Vianney's Catholic Church at Fairy Meadow, north of Wollongong, to pay their last respects to the former Woonona High School student.

They included a number of the crash survivors and many of Ms Wright's adopted Maori relatives.

In a eulogy, partly given in Maori, Ms Wright was described as being happiest when she was with her mother.

As her casket was carried from the church, relatives performed a traditional Maori haka.

Ms Wright will be buried at Scarborough Cemetery this afternoon.

Investigations into the accident are continuing.

Related:

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Support for booze public education
A SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy.

Boat driver in fatal crash revealed: cover-up

The reports keep coming in and being updated from corporate media sources seemingly distorting the facts relating to huge discrepancies emerging following their reports as stated here: Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?] Quote: Clearly one cannot help reading the garbage coming from the mainscream media trying to cover-up for these people, why is that? Because they're the publicans responsibility or because Charlie Reynolds has influence? Or both? If these people were from Macquarie Fields they'd be in jail and refused bail and there is nothing more certain than that.

Switching Drivers?

Updated May 8 6:15am (AEST)
THE lawyer for Matthew Reynolds, the man who skippered the runabout involved in an accident that claimed six lives in Sydney Harbour last week, maintains that the 31-year-old was in control of the boat even if he was not steering at the time. "I'm not suggesting he wasn't in command of the vessel [but] he wasn't driving at the time of the collision," Greg Walsh said. Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people?

All thoroughly legal boat trip?

Updated May 8 8:15am (AEST)
Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Who stole the boat?

Detectives investigating the crash will compare forensic evidence and witness statements after it was initially claimed Matthew Reynolds was at the helm?

The two boats collided on Sydney Harbour a week ago about 2.40am (AEST) near Bradleys Head.

Of the 14 people on the overloaded, 23-foot runabout, six died and eight were injured, including Mr Reynolds who remains in hospital in a satisfactory condition.

It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited reports?

Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small?

Mr Small, who holds a boating licence and did not appear affected by alcohol, safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay.

On their way back to Balmain, the boats collided, and it is believed both boats had their lights on at the time, News Limited reports.

Both Mr Reynolds and Mr Small have yet to make formal statements to police.

Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering, which owns the runabout, again said yesterday that Mr Reynolds had taken the boat without knowledge or authorisation.

[So as well as the alledged obvious of being drunk, STOLEN which means: un-registered, un-insured, un-licensed, get it corporate media?]

Alex Rumiz, 22; Stacey Wright, 21; Elizabeth "Lizzie" Holder, 20; Ashlei Ayres, 32, and Jessica Savanna Holloway, 25, were killed in the harbour collision.

One of those rescued - Alex Nikakis, 29 - died later in hospital from severe brain injuries.

A funeral will be held today for Ms Holder at 11.30am at the Camellia Chapel of Macquarie Park Crematorium, at North Ryde.

Quote: It is not okay for the coporate media to direct the public opinion in this way. Or the police to lie for these people no matter who they are. It is not okay for police to bend the case to present us with clean-skins opposed to lawbreakers in a dirty world, not so much of corruption, but corporate and public mismanagement. Everyone should be treated equally according to the law and in the media. There is a lot of influence in the corporations here, specifically the publicans, the pubs around Balmain and tourist operator Charlie Reynolds. Most importantly for NSW, who is pulling these strings when it comes to the media? Who is pulling these strings when it comes to law and order and the police? What powerful body is capable of twisting the facts in criminal negligence cases? From my observation it appears to be 'News Limited' [Limited News] who have the affiliation with the NSW Police, not good for law abiding-citizens. Flowing on from that exposure then all the other corporate media just follow News Limited's [Limited News] lead. Then along comes the ABC if no one gerries over the discrepancies. Then the ABC make the same claim? Of course News Limited and CH Ten have deep affiliation with the police. That's why I call News Limited, Limited News, because their sources are government or police and they don't have to 'find stories' they get them for free!!! So who is directing traffic? NSW Police???

Related:

Harbour death crash: [who stole the boat?]
The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Support for booze public education
A SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy.

Harbour death crash: [ who stole the boat? ]

The father of Matthew Reynolds, [the man originally thought to have stolen the runabout and] the man originally thought to have been at the helm of the runabout at the time of last Thursday's harbour tragedy, says his son knows who was steering the vessel but will not reveal their identity because of "legal implications".

But one of the men who saw the boat leaving Darling Street Wharf has confirmed that Matthew Reynolds, 31, piloted the vessel away from the pier.

Charlie Reynolds said this morning that his son was still to give his full version of the deadly night's events to police.

Mr Reynolds has told media that his son was not at the helm at the time it came into contact with a fishing boat, resulting in the death of six people.

[But what if anything does that have to do with it even if it were true? Regardless of who had control of the runabout at the time of the collision the boat was stolen and therefore by implication the person who stole the boat is also responsible for the accident and subsequent damage to persons and property.]

In a conversation with Mr Reynold's solicitor Greg Walsh this morning it was [allegedly] revealed the small runabout had both its port and starboard lights on as well as its mast light when the 14-metre fishing boat, Jordon's, crashed into it on Thursday morning.

"All the lights were on and in good working order," Mr Walsh said.

[Even though Mr Walsh wasn't there?]

He also said that Mr Reynolds had told him he had not been driving the boat at the time of the crash.

When asked if his son did know who was steering, Mr Reynolds said: "I guess he knows but he hasn't said at this stage. There are legal implications. That will all come out when Matt talks [to police]."

The company that owns the runabout today denied a statement by Mr Reynolds's lawyer that the 31-year-old had permission to use the boat.

"Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering Pty Ltd wishes to confirm its earlier statement that the boat involved in last week's accident was being used without authorisation or its knowledge,'' the statement read.

Andre Ogle, from Russell Lea in Sydney's inner west, was fishing at Darling Street Wharf when he saw the runabout arrive between 1am and 1.30am.

He last week described the people on the boat as "a whole bunch of young people in party mode" and said a man who skippered the vessel away from the wharf said his name was "Matt".

Mr Ogle this morning confirmed that Matt was at the helm when the runabout left the wharf.

"Yes he definitely was," Mr Ogle said. "But the police have asked me not to make any more statements to the media."

[Excuse them?]

Another of the survivors of the deadly night, 21-year-old Edmund Renew of Balmain was also asked this morning who was at the helm but said: "Sorry I don't want to talk about it."

The last thing Mr Reynolds remembers before being knocked out was talking to his girlfriend, mother-of-two Ashlie Ayers, [who is stone cold and dead with two surviving children without their mother] his lawyer says.

Quote: Clearly one cannot help reading the garbage coming from the mainscream media trying to cover-up for these people, why is that? Because they're the publicans responsibility or because Charlie Reynolds has influence? Or both? If these people were from Macquarie Fields they'd be in jail and refused bail and there is nothing more certain than that.

Updated May 8 6:15am (AEST)

THE lawyer for Matthew Reynolds, the man who skippered the runabout involved in an accident that claimed six lives in Sydney Harbour last week, maintains that the 31-year-old was in control of the boat even if he was not steering at the time.

"I'm not suggesting he wasn't in command of the vessel [but] he wasn't driving at the time of the collision," Greg Walsh said.

Updated May 8 8:15am (AEST)

Cocktail barman Percy Small has been named as the man at the wheel of the runabout when it crashed into a larger fishing boat, killing six people. It is believed those on board have also claimed that a third person may have been at the wheel during some point in the journey, News Limited [Limited News] reports. [???] [An attempt now to place someone that was allegedly not drunk at the helm???] Quote: "Witnesses have told police that after Mr Reynolds, a qualified skipper, negotiated the boat from Balmain Wharf he handed the controls over to Mr Small. Mr Small, who holds a 'boating licence' and 'did not appear affected by alcohol', safely took the boat across the harbour to Watsons Bay." Unquote. [NSW Police and Limited News Lies? Seems like they got the all clear??? Now all they have to do is inform the boat owners that granting permission to the crew for the journey won't be a liability???]

Related:

Homicide squad called in over harbour crash
THE homicide squad stamped its authority on the investigation into the harbour tragedy yesterday, with an inspection of the boats that smashed into each other in the cold and dark on Thursday morning.

Police name 6th harbour crash victim
Thirty-two-year-old Ashlei Ayres, a single mother of two, has now been named as one of the five people who died at the scene of the crash.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Support for booze public education
A SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy.