Tony Ryall National Corrections Spokesman

27 January 2003

Would someone please pick up the phone?

Why is everyone in authority continuing to ignore the plight of a Kawerau family who are living beside a woman convicted of manslaughter of one of their family members?

The family are today pleading for Mr Gosche or the Corrections Department to talk to them about having the woman, Renee Rooney, removed after National helped the family go public with their dilemma at the weekend.

Rooney was convicted of manslaughter after setting a house alight in which two people died in 1999. When released on parole last September she was ordered to live next door to the sister of a man killed in the fire, and five doors along the street from the mother of the same man.

"National knows this family are desperate for a solution. Despite their pleas for Mr Gosche to act two months ago, again at the weekend and early today he has done nothing," says Naitonal Corrections Spokesman Tony Ryall.

"If Mr Gosche is not in a position to assist then we would expect another Minister or his department would be seeking a solution.

"Today the Government would not front up to media interviews, leaving a family member on morning radio pleading for someone to ring them and discuss the issue. This is an appalling way to treat victims and shows the Government is completely out of touch and incompetent," Mr Ryall said. Ends

ENDS

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