Media adviser busted leaking court material ‘naive’
A media executive with no legal experience hired from a prestigious school has admitted to leaking the identity of an Indigenous teenager during a public argument between a judge and the state’s attorney general.
The 17-year-old was facing criminal charges but was given permission by NSW District Court Judge Penelope Wass to make Country recognizance before the sentencing hearing.
His attendance at a traditional welcoming ceremony was revealed by Sydney radio station 2GB after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) provided a screenshot containing sensitive information identifying the boy.
Before being appointed ODPP’s media manager, Sally Killoran ran media research for Sydney’s elite Cranbrook School.
“I have no legal training,” Ms Killoran told the state parliamentary inquiry into the controversy on Wednesday.
“When I joined the New South Wales ODPP there were a lot of media inquiries going on in the office and I faced a steep learning curve given my lack of legal qualifications and previous experience working in government.”
Ms Killoran said recognition of the Country was discussed internally and was deemed inappropriate.
“I recall concerns expressed, including that it was culturally insensitive and not consistent with the public’s perception of the courts and justice system,” he said.
At a media conference attended by Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling, Mr Killoran suggested “proactively presenting” the story to journalists.
“No one objected to that suggestion, and so at the time, I believed I had the approval to relay the story to the radio station, believing that I was qualified to do so,” he said.
When the radio station sought further details, Ms Killoran provided a screenshot of the privileged legal material.
“I realize now that I made a serious error of judgment when I provided the screenshot to 2GB because it was legally privileged information and contained the name of a young offender,” he said.
“I acted not out of malice but out of inexperience.”
The media consultant learned of the mistake after police launched an investigation.
Ms Killoran said: “Sally Dowling was surprised and shocked; she told me I should seek legal advice and that I should not speak to anyone in the office about this matter while there was an ongoing police investigation.” he said.
No charges were filed and the media consultant was disciplined following an internal investigation.
Ms Dowling admitted in early November that her media team leaked up to 2GB of limited court material, which ultimately formed the basis of scathing coverage of Judge Wass in 2024.
In his submission to the NSW upper house inquiry, the judge called for Ms Dowling’s possible dismissal and accused the ODPP of leaking the material to damage her reputation.
Judge Wass had previously complained to the state’s legal watchdog about Ms Dowling’s behavior after the attorney general made numerous complaints about the judge’s actions in multiple cases.
But Ms Killoran denied the judge was targeted.
“This was about recognition of the Country, not about the judge,” he said.
Lawyer Douglas Farland represented the teenager and said Judge Wass had asked for approval from the prosecution before the cultural ceremony was held and there were no objections.
