Fed: Ms Fagan was not accountable to the media: Keelty

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2007
Fed: Ms Fagan was not accountable to the media: Keelty

Federal Police Commissioner MICK KEELTY has warned journalists against using public
servants as punching bags .. following the sudden death of ACT police chief AUDREY FAGAN.

Ms FAGAN was receiving counselling for poor police media management .. in the weeks
leading up to her death in a Queensland hotel room last Friday.

Her death hasn't been confirmed as suicide .. but police say there were no suspicious
circumstances.

Ms FAGAN had been under enormous pressure from local media .. over her officers' reluctance
to give out information about crimes.

But Mr KEELTY's told ABC radio .. as a public servant she was accountable to the ACT
government and not the media.







ACT police have been pressured over a number of issues .. including watch-house operations
.. failing to disclose information about a sexual assault on a schoolgirl .. and deaths
involving police pursuits.

The Irish-born 44-year-old was found dead in her holiday apartment on Hayman Island.

Ms FAGAN was appointed ACT chief police officer in 2005 .. and was the first woman
to hold the position.

AAP RTV sld/mfh/tm/bart

KEYWORD: FAGAN KEELTY (CANBERRA)

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