Senior Labor figure Kristina Keneally’s policeman son has been charged with fabricating evidence after an investigation by the state’s independent law enforcement watchdog.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has spent months looking at how Constable Daniel Keneally came to make an allegedly false statement that led to an anti-corruption campaigner spending three weeks in jail.
Constable Keneally accused self-styled ‘justice warrior’ Luke Moore of having threatened to kill a detective during a telephone conversation last year.
Mr Moore had secretly taped the call but officers from the fixated persons investigation unit did not listen to the recording until long after his arrest.
Once police heard the recording they acknowledged it contained no death threats from the onetime forklift driver and all charges were withdrawn.
Kristina Keneally’s cop son has been charged with fabricating evidence after an investigation by the state’s independent law enforcement watchdog. Constable Daniel Keneally is pictured with his mother (left) and former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian
Luke Moore was wrongly jailed after former senator Kristina Keneally’s policeman son made allegations he threatened to kill a cop
The LECC previously originally had oversight of an internal police inquiry into Constable Keneally’s conduct but took over the investigation in late 2021.
‘The Commission recently received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions,’ the LECC said on Tuesday.
‘Criminal proceedings have now been commenced against Constable Keneally by an officer of the Commission alleging one offence of fabricating false evidence with the intent to mislead an judicial tribunal… ‘
‘As criminal proceedings are now on foot, the Commission will make no further comment concerning the matter.’
NSW Police said 24-year-old Constable Keneally, who is attached to the Central Metropolitan Region, would face Downing Centre Local Court on November 17.
‘The officer’s employment status is under review,’ a spokesperson said.
The Commonwealth DPP dropped all charges against Mr Moore after it became clear the threats attributed to him in Constable Keneally’s statement were not recorded. Constable Keneally is pictured with former Labor senator Sam Dastyari and a poster of Ms Keneally
Ms Keneally, the former Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and deputy leader of the Opposition in the upper house, has previously declined to speak about her son’s predicament.
Mr Moore has been offered a compensation payment for his ordeal after Constable Keneally allegedly falsely claimed he had threatened to kill another cop.
An internal inquiry conducted by an officer within Constable Keneally’s local police command found that he had not acted with due care and diligence in relation to the statement he made against Mr Moore.
‘Internal inquiries have been finalised and management action has been taken,’ a NSW Police spokeswoman said last year.
‘The matter is being independently reviewed and, as it is subject to proceedings, it is not appropriate to comment further.’
Mr Moore (above) has a long and colourful history with authorities, having campaigned against police strip searches and established the isuepolice.com website
The LECC steps in when it is not satisfied with the way a complaint has been handled or with the action taken by NSW Police.
Mr Moore was last year sent a letter of apology on behalf of the State of NSW which would be liable for any compensation claim he made against NSW Police.
‘The State accepts SC Keneally was in error when he said that you wanted another Police officer “Dead”,’ the letter said. ‘The State regrets what was said.
‘The State also regrets not having investigated your assertions that you had not threatened the life of another Police officer more expeditiously.’
It also ‘acknowledges that more timely investigations would have discovered the audio recording you made contradicted SC Keneally’s assertions.’
A letter of apology to Mr Moore covers police actions including ‘a search of your house, seizure of your goods, your arrest, remand and prosecution for various offences’
Mr Moore has a long and colourful history with authorities, having campaigned against police strip searches and established the isuepolice.com website.
He describes himself as ‘Australia’s Number 1 police and political corruption expert’, a human rights advocate and ‘justice warrior’.
A decade ago Mr Moore took advantage of a banking error that allowed him an unlimited overdraft and got away with spending $2.1 million of St George’s money.
He recently completed a law degree and is working on expanding his evolving business that offers to resolve civil claims over wrongful actions by police.
Mr Moore called Newtown police station about 8.30pm on February 24 and spoke with Constable Keneally about his concerns regarding matters including unlawful strip searches.
Unbeknown to Constable Keneally, Mr Moore recorded everything they said.
Mr Moore revealed he was the founder and CEO of isuepolice.com and Constable Keneally accessed that website during their chat.
The website contained references to a detective at Goulburn.
Constable Keneally subsequently filed an intelligence report and made a statement about the telephone call alleging Mr Moore had made threats against that detective.
He claimed Mr Moore told him he wanted the detective ‘gone’ and ‘off this planet’ and that when he asked Mr Moore what he meant he replied, ‘Good as gone. Dead.’
About 12.50pm the next day Mr Moore was arrested in Nowra on the NSW South Coast by officers from the fixated persons investigation unit.
He was refused bail after being charged with using a carriage service to threaten to kill and two counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend.
Mr Moore strongly denied the allegation made by Constable Keneally and was adamant the recording of the conversation would prove his innocence.
While in the cells at Nowra police station, Mr Moore says he was called a ‘princess’ by the custody manager.
He broke a clock over his head in frustration and was also charged with damaging or destroying property.
Police executed a search warrant at Mr Moore’s home and seized items including a mobile phone but did not immediately access the recording he claimed was on it.
Bail was again refused at Nowra Local Court on February 26 and Mr Moore remained behind bars at the South Coast Correctional Centre for 24 days until March 19.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges in June 2021 after the recording of the conversation between Mr Moore and Constable Keneally was located and found to contain no threat against the detective.
On August 27 last year a magistrate awarded costs of $10,000 to Mr Moore and a further $1,840.50 to Legal Aid.
The destroy or damage charge related to the clock was also withdrawn on October 27 and police were ordered to pay Mr Moore $19,000 in costs.
Constable Keneally’s conduct was raised by One Nation MP Rod Roberts, a former detective, in the NSW upper house on November 24.
Mr Moore lodged a complaint which was investigated internally and a finding was made against Constable Keneally that he had not acted with due care and diligence in making his statement. Constable Keneally is pictured as a schoolboy with his mother
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