Australia's Most Murderous Prison: Behind the Walls of Goulburn Jail

by Phelps, James

  Jihadist Faheem Lodhi, the first convicted Australian terrorist under new 2005 legislation.

  Moustafa Cheikho

  Khaled Cheikho

  Four of the ‘Terror Five’ militants arrested in 2005 and convicted of stockpiling high-powered guns and homemade bombs to inflict mass death and destruction in Sydney.

  Mohamed Elomar

  Abdul Hasan

  Gang rapist Bilal Skaf leaving King Street Supreme Court. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Michael Finnane concluded, ‘What this trial showed was that he was the leader of the pack, a liar, a bully, a coward, callous and mean – the worst of all offenders who conducted himself as if the proceedings were a joke.’ (NICK MOIR/FAIRFAX PHOTOS)

  Acknowledgements

  At first I was met with silence. ‘I’m not talking to you,’ they said. ‘And no comment.’ But slowly and surely the brave men and women who have worked in Goulburn Jail came forward with their remarkable stories. I would like to thank each and every person who fronted up to break a culture of silence to contribute to this book. Many of you asked to remain anonymous, and that is how you will stay. Sorry to those of you whom I mobbed in the street or door-knocked, and more so, thanks for not swatting me with a broom or chasing me from Goulburn with a pitchfork. I can’t name many of you, but I can name some. In no particular order I would like to thank Ian Norris, Al Chisholm, Dave Farrell, Grant Turner and Kevin Camberwell. All these men are former Corrections officers and bloody legends – thanks for your service and your friendship.

  To Tim Swain, you are an inspiration, mate. What happened to you was just shit, but your recovery, your strength and the way you confront each day is simply brave. Thanks for trusting me with your story. The same goes to Jane Swain. I am sure Tim would have not let me in the door had it not been for you. Thanks for everything.

  Also a special shout-out to John Heffernan. The ‘Last Governor’ has backed me and supported me from day one.

  The great men who helped me with my last book, Australia’s Hardest Prison: Inside the Walls of Long Bay Jail, also helped me with this one. Roy Foxwell put me in touch with Al Chisholm, who was a very big part of this book. Al had never spoken about his controversial stint as governor of Goulburn, and he may never have if it wasn’t for Roy. Thanks ‘Foxy’ … again.

  Thanks to ‘Dave the Dentist’. You put me in touch with a bloody legend and also look after my teeth.

  I also spoke to several men who have lived their lives on the other side of the law. Thanks for telling me your stories and trusting me to keep your identities safe.

  I also have to thank Daily Telegraph sports editor Tim Morrissey and Sunday Telegraph sports editor Chris Hopper for allowing me to take time out from chasing cars and footballs to chase criminals. A special thanks goes to you, Tim, for supporting me even though I used to be a very messy desk-mate. I would like to thank Mick Carroll, who is the reason why I am still a journalist. So yes, Mick, you’re to blame.

  Thanks to my one and only publisher, Alison Urquhart. We have done it four times now! Thanks for backing me once again. And to Brandon VanOver; we have only met once but you know me so well. Thanks for your kind, thoughtful and diligent editing. You made it painless.

  And lastly, thanks to my family. As always, I do this for you.

  About the Author

  James Phelps is an award-winning senior reporter for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph in Sydney. He began as an overnight police rounds reporter before moving into sport, where he became one of Australia’s best news-breaking rugby league reporters.

  James became News Australia’s Chief National Motor-sports writer and travelled the world chasing F1 stories, as well as becoming Australia’s No. 1 V8 Supercar reporter. James is also a senior feature writer for the Sunday Telegraph.

  Following the bestselling Dick Johnson: The Autobiography of a True-Blue Aussie Sporting Legend, James returned to his roots to delve into the criminal underworld with Australia’s Hardest Prison: Inside the Walls of Long Bay Jail; Australia’s Most Murderous Prison: Behind the Walls of Goulburn Jail and Australia’s Toughest Prisons: Inmates. James is a twice V8 Supercar media award-winner and a former News Awards ‘Young Journalist of the Year’ and ‘Sport Reporter of the Year’, as well as a Kennedy Awards finalist for ‘Sports Reporter of the Year’.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Penguin Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Version 1.0

  Australia’s Most Murderous Prison: Behind the Walls of Goulburn Jail

  ePub ISBN – 9780857987501

  First published by Ebury Press in 2015

  This updated edition published in 2016

  Copyright © James Phelps, 2015, 2016

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  An Ebury Press book

  Published by Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd

  Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060

  www.penguin.com.au

  Addresses for the Penguin Random House group of companies can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com/offices.

  National Library of Australia

  Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

  Phelps, James, author.

  Australia’s most murderous prison/James Phelps.

  ISBN 978 0 85798 750 1 (ebook)

  Goulburn Correctional Centre.

  Prisons – New South Wales – Goulburn.

  Correctional personnel – New South Wales – Goulburn.

  Correctional personnel – Violence against – New South Wales – Goulburn.

  Prisons – New South Wales – Goulburn – Security measures.

  Prisoners – New South Wales – Goulburn.

  Prison violence – New South Wales – Goulburn.

  365.99447

  Cover design by Luke Causby/Blue Cork

  Cover photo © News Ltd/Newspix

  Ebook by Firstsource

  Every effort has been made to acknowledge and contact the copyright holders for permission to reproduce material contained in this book. Any copyright holders who have been inadvertently omitted from acknowledgements and credits should contact the publisher and omissions will be rectified in subsequent editions.