Bondi victim saluted as brother lashes gun laws critics
A former police officer, a beloved rugby club player and a devoted husband shot dead in the Bondi massacre have said goodbye.
Peter “Marzo” Meagher, who died at the age of 61, was working as a freelance photographer covering the Hanukkah by the Sea event on December 14 when he was shot at the ill-fated community gathering.
Hundreds of people, including senior political figures, packed Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday for his funeral, where family and friends remembered many aspects of his life.
Brother David Meagher delivered strong praise, taking aim at criticism of gun reform in the wake of the terror attack and calling for further tightening of restrictions.
The NSW parliament passed a raft of new gun laws in December, including a limit meaning a person can own no more than four firearms.
Naveed Akram and father Sajid Akram, who killed 15 people in the terrorist attack, had 6 guns between them.
“What can you do with six guns that you can’t do with four guns?” Mr. Meagher asked.
“Gun reform alone will not solve hate or extremism, but an anti-Semite without a gun is just a hateful person. An anti-Semite with a gun is a murderer.”
Mr Meagher also questioned why some people, including former prime minister John Howard and former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, had rejected proposals on the gun issue and said Australia was merely tackling the scourge of anti-Semitism.
“Why can’t two things happen at the same time?” he said.
“Just as we need to ask why the killers did this, we also of course need to ask how they could do it.”
A large group of political attendees included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
The cathedral was packed with police as former comrades recalled Mr. Meagher’s 35 years on the force, during which he rose to the rank of detective sergeant.
He has received three Commissioners’ Commendations, including for his work investigating the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege.
“Peter was always hands-on, never afraid. He was never afraid to arrest a criminal,” former NSW Deputy Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said.
Officers formed a police guard to bid farewell to Mr Meagher at the end of the funeral.
He was also remembered as a legendary figure who gave decades of service to Randwick Rugby Club, where he was a player, long-term referee and team manager.
Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has apologized to Mr Meagher’s family for the club not making him a life member before his death.
“Our only defense is that we assume we will benefit from Marzo’s quiet but inexhaustible energy for many years to come,” he said.
“Even the most generous man I know had more to give.”
Many players and other figures from the Randwick club were also in attendance.
Akram, 24, accused of mass murder, faces 59 charges, including 15 murders, in connection with the shootings.
He was shot by police at the scene and remained in a coma for days before being charged and later transferred to Goulburn supermax prison on Monday.
His 50-year-old father was shot and killed by police.
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