Sunday, 10 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Meurant hid clown-bashing cop

Jared Savage
By Jared Savage, Jared Savage
8 Jul, 2011 05:30 PM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Three clowns, two men and a woman, were attacked in Dominion Rd during the anti-Springbok tour protests. Photo / Supplied

Three clowns, two men and a woman, were attacked in Dominion Rd during the anti-Springbok tour protests. Photo / Supplied

A leading figure in the notorious Red Squad has admitted lying to an internal police investigation into the bashing of three Springbok Tour protesters dressed as clowns.

Speaking just before the 30th anniversary of the divisive 1981 tour, Ross Meurant told the Weekend Herald that he fooled an identity parade by bringing in an outside officer disguised to look like the prime suspect. Meurant was the senior sergeant in the specially trained riot group and has previously denied any knowledge about the alleged assaults by Red Squad members outside Eden Park on September 12, 1981.

The "Clowns incident" became the most infamous event in a period of violent civil unrest, when two men and a woman were batoned by police officers on Dominion Rd - leaving the woman unconscious.

A high-level police inquiry was launched, but Red Squad closed ranks and the identity of the officers responsible remains a mystery.

Until now, Meurant has denied any knowledge that Red Squad was even involved. In an interview about the Springbok tour, which began on July 19, 1981, Meurant still defends the Red Squad but admits he lied to the internal investigation.

"Contrary to previous denials by me that I knew anything about this incident - of course I knew. I was the Squad Commander for goodness sake.

"During the tour and subsequent to the tour, I told lies to police inquisitors intent on nailing at least one Red Squad member for an assault. There was no way in a million years I would have sacrificed one of my troops to the guillotine. This is what one does when 'Deep in the Forest'. One looks after one's mates."

Meurant said the internal police investigation, led by Chief Superintendent Jim Morgan, "went out of their way to get Red Squad".

"For me, it then became a matter of [fighting] fire with fire."

He described how early in 1982, the squad was ordered to take part in another informal identification parade, by running around the Auckland waterfront.

Squad members were ordered to run in pairs, 10m apart, along Hobson Bay where "clowns" and other witnesses were placed at strategic positions. Meurant said the identification parade was "illegal". So he condoned the inclusion of a constable who was very similar in appearance to the Red Squad member suspect.

"The purpose of the intruder was to hopefully confuse 'The Clowns'. So careful were our preparations that the Red Squad suspect shaved off his moustache [which had been an identifying characteristic according to The Clowns] while the intruder deliberately retained his moustache.

"What real value is served today by trying to put before the courts a young man who in the circumstances of total riot, may have been justified in lashing out with his PR 24 [baton]as Red Squad moved forward to clear the sector?"

While the internal investigation failed to draw conclusions, the Clowns incident led to a civil trial where the police department was sued for exemplary damages. Each clown received $10,000.

Justice Pritchard said despite discrepancies in the witness accounts, all agreed it was a brutal attack in which repeated police blows rained down on helpless victims.

Related articles

New Zealand

The rugby tour that split us into two nations

08 Jul 05:30 PM
New Zealand

Team of '81 coming 'to reconcile'

08 Jul 05:30 PM
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Lotto Powerball results: One lucky player wins $8.25m prize

09 Dec 09:04 AM
New Zealand

More delays at Auckland Airport after processing system crash

09 Dec 08:41 AM
New Zealand

'Serious injuries': Four-vehicle crash in Waikato

09 Dec 08:26 AM
New Zealand

'Horrific winds': Crews tackle blazes across several South Island regions

09 Dec 07:41 AM

“Never been a better time to buy an EV”

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Lotto Powerball results: One lucky player wins $8.25m prize

Lotto Powerball results: One lucky player wins $8.25m prize

09 Dec 09:04 AM

Tonight’s winner is the 18th Powerball multi-millionaire of 2023

More delays at Auckland Airport after processing system crash

More delays at Auckland Airport after processing system crash

09 Dec 08:41 AM
'Serious injuries': Four-vehicle crash in Waikato

'Serious injuries': Four-vehicle crash in Waikato

09 Dec 08:26 AM
'Horrific winds': Crews tackle blazes across several South Island regions

'Horrific winds': Crews tackle blazes across several South Island regions

09 Dec 07:41 AM
9 big questions over an EV road trip
sponsored

9 big questions over an EV road trip

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP