Tom Phillips’ parents write letter of apology, say they never supported him

The parents of Tom Phillips have penned a letter to their local newspaper, extending a “sincere apology” to the local community.

Former fugitive Phillips was killed in the early hours of September 8 after entering into a shootout with police, during which he critically injured an officer.

Police are currently investigating whether anyone helped Phillips while he was on the run for four years after he abducted his three young children and took them into hiding in the wilderness.

In a Letter to the Editor published today in the King Country News, his parents, Neville and Julia Phillips, gave their “sincere apologies”.

“We would like to send our sincere apology to all those in the Waitomo/Otorohanga districts, most especially those in the Marokopa/Te Anga community for all the trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom,” the letter states.

The letter was published in the King Country News today.

“We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past 4 years.

“We are truly sorry for all you had to endure.”

The Phillips case divided the local Marokopa population, with some resenting what they felt were overbearing tactics by police during the long-running manhunt.

“They were treating everyone as if they were f***ing guilty, eh. Looking at you like ‘are you f***ing hiding him? Are you?’” one local whitebaiter, Sam, told the Herald last month.

“A lot of the people out here are retirees; there’s not many people out here. They’re either farmers or retirees.”

The campsite where Tom Phillips’ children were. Photo / NZ Police

Local Warren Keegan was also scathing of authorities, but said his anger had “nothing to do with not finding” the family.

“Our community is not very happy with the police anyway. I’ll tell you that.

“It’s just the way we’ve been treated down here. They harassed the s*** out of us while they were looking for him. And when they closed the road we had no notification. I’m very disappointed with police, straight up.

“They just drove up and down the road, they never bothered to get out and take a look. They were parking up at your house and they wouldn’t come and speak to you or anything.”