{"id":12050,"date":"2021-07-07T22:25:02","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T22:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=12050"},"modified":"2021-07-07T22:25:02","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T22:25:02","slug":"1-million-reward-announced-for-information-into-1979-luna-park-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2021\/07\/07\/1-million-reward-announced-for-information-into-1979-luna-park-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"$1 million reward announced for information into 1979 Luna Park fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police Force, has announced a $1 million reward for information into the 1979 Luna Park fire, as Homicide Squad detectives continue to review the circumstances surrounding the fatal blaze.
\nAbout 10.15pm on Saturday 9 June 1979, emergency services were called to Luna Park at Milsons Point, following reports of a fire inside the Ghost Train ride.
\nSix boys and a man were killed in the blaze.
\nIn September that year, a Coronial Inquest found the cause of the blaze could not be determined.
\nOver the years, investigators from across the NSW Police Force have investigated all information received in relation to the fire.
\nOn April 2021, a formal request was submitted to the NSW Police Force State Crime Command by the State Coroner to conduct a review into all evidence concerning the cause and origin of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the seven deaths.
\nDetectives from the Homicide Squad\u2019s Unsolved Homicide Team established Strike Force Sedgeman and a formal review commenced.
\nTo assist with their inquiries, NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott has announced a $1 million reward for fresh and significant information into the incident.
\nMinister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he is confident any fresh and material information will assist detectives with their review of the case.
\n\u201cDespite the passage of time, this horrific incident remains embedded in the psyche of Sydney-siders. I am appealing to those who may know something but have not previously been inclined to assist.
\n\u201cYou now have a million reasons to come forward. This is a very unique reward, it does not require a charge or conviction of any person, it relates to information about the Ghost Train fire.
\n\u201cAs soon as I met with some of the survivors earlier this year, and heard their devastating stories, I knew there was more that could be done. I stand with the family, friends, survivors and the broader community in searching for answers, and this reward should encourage anyone with fresh information to speak up,\u201d Mr Elliott said.
\nNSW Police Force Commissioner, Michael Fuller APM, said police have recently demonstrated a strong record of criminal investigations and arrests for offences committed decades ago.
\n\u201cI want to assure the family and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic event, and the broader community, that if our investigators can identify a way to pursue a criminal investigation then it will happen,\u201d Commissioner Fuller said.
\n\u201cIt is very important to acknowledge that any major investigation conducted in 1979 would be deficient in many respects if viewed through the lens of modern investigative and forensic practices employed by NSW Police Force in 2021.
\n\u201cOur Homicide Squad investigators are exceptionally diligent and will review all aspects of the case including allegations of corruption or malpractice.
\n\u201cStrike Force Sedgeman detectives will also consider any new and compelling evidence which will allow them to progress inquiries with the State Coroner and Law Enforcement Conduct Commission,\u201d Commissioner Fuller said.
\nHomicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said the review will examine all available evidence obtained over the past four decades.
\n\u201cDetectives attached to Strike Force Sedgeman have commenced a review of the 1979 Luna Park fire, which will take some time to complete,\u201d Det Supt Doherty said.
\n\u201cThere is a significant quantity of materials that will be re-examined including documentation, video recordings, witness statements and forensic evidence.
\n\u201cWe know that the families who lost loved ones during this tragic fire have suffered immensely over the years, not knowing how and why their lives were cut short.
\n\u201cRest assured that if the NSW Police Force uncovers evidence to progress a criminal investigation into this historic event, then we will,\u201d Det Supt Doherty said.
\nAnyone with information that may assist Strike Force Sedgeman detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or<\/em><\/strong> https:\/\/nsw.crimestoppers.com.au<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police Force, has announced a $1 million reward for information into the 1979 Luna Park fire, as Homicide Squad detectives continue to review the circumstances surrounding the fatal blaze. About 10.15pm on Saturday 9 June 1979, emergency services were called to Luna Park at Milsons Point, following reports … Continue reading “$1 million reward announced for information into 1979 Luna Park fire”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12050"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12050\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}