Victims aghast at Fahey's early parole

By NATASHA HARRIS

The victims of disgraced doctor and former Christchurch Deputy Mayor Morgan Fahey have spoken out in disgust at his early release from prison.

He will be released by the end of the month after being granted parole yesterday.

The 71-year-old former GP is midway through his six-year term for rape, sexual violation and indecent assault of 11 women, including the rape of a pregnant woman.

A number of his victims made submissions at last week's Parole Board hearing.

Last night one of them said: "It's disgusting. The law is wrong. As far as I'm concerned, it's been a life of hell for 30-odd years and it gets worse when you hear news like this."

Another victim who consulted Fahey about sexual problems within her marriage was "disgusted" to hear about his early release.

"He's been a dreadful person. I just have to try to forget about it."

Board spokesman Iain MacLean said Fahey had to live under a "handful" of special conditions but would not give details. He declined to say when Fahey would be released or where he would be living.

"The main thing the board looks at when it's deciding whether to release someone is the safety of the community and the likelihood of somebody reoffending," he said.

If Fahey had not won early parole, he would have been released from prison next May because he had served most of his sentence.

The board rang Fahey's victims yesterday to tell them of his release. The victims had been given about three months' notice of his hearing.

Fahey's early release comes three months after he unsuccessfully applied for home detention.

Publicity about his offending, which took place between 1966 and 1997, shook faith in the medical profession.

After he was jailed in June 2000 he was struck off the medical register.