A vigilante Facebook group fought for months to expose the truth that missing boy William Tyrrell was in foster care, despite the government’s attempts to silence them.
Walking Warriors 4 Missing Children wanted to reveal that missing boy William was a foster child when he disappeared from his foster grandmother’s home on the New South Wales mid-north coast on September 12, 2014.
The government tried to silence the group to hide the fact he was the responsibility of the Minister for Family and Community Services when he went missing.
But a judge ruled that the truth about William’s foster care could be reported after admitting that it was probable that the boy had died.
William Tyrrell was a foster child at the time of his disappearance from his foster grandmother’s home on the New South Wales mid-north coast
William’s status as a foster child has been a closely guarded secret of the courts and police since his disappearance nearly three years ago.
The Department argued the information would have a ‘stigmatising effect’ on William and would negatively impact his foster family if it was released.
They tried to have certain posts removed from the Facebook page, which was co-run by Allanna Pearl Smith, who described herself as an advocate for children’s rights and interests.
Justice J Brereton ruled against the Department of Family and Community Services and said releasing the information would have no negative effect on the case.
‘I am quite unpersuaded that it would hinder it… it does not explain why it was decided at the outset not to reveal (William’s) status, nor why it was decided to allow the carers to be represented as (William’s) parents,’ Justice Brereton said.
Justice Brereton said his decision was influenced by ‘the tragic probability that (William) is no longer alive’.
At one court appearance attended by Daily Mail Australia earlier this year, the group didn’t even have a barrister in attendance, telling the judge they were consulting with the Law Society to find a representative.
A supporter of the group told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday night: ‘No words, this is bloody brilliant… Bloody fantastic for kids in care.
‘William needs to come home and we will never give up. Allanna Smith led the way and she won’.
Daily Mail Australia understands the mysterious Ms Smith is a child protection advocate who does not have a law degree. She worked with a barrister in the Court of Appeal case.
Court of Appeal documents say because William was under the care of the NSW Minister for Family and Community Services, as a foster child, the information could be released because it was of ‘legitimate public interest’
The Walking Warriors Australia page she is associated with advocates for a coronial inquest into William’s disappearance.
It has more than 11,000 fans and is not officially linked to the boy’s family, which runs its own campaigns to find William.
Ms Smith, from Barmedman in the state’s west, was the Facebook page’s representative to the court. The group is not a legally incorporated entity and does not have an individual owner.
After the court decision was announced, the group said it hoped ‘transparency (will) lead William home’.
The Department of Family and Community Services will have to pay Ms Smith’s costs, the court ruled.
There is no suggestion William Tyrrell’s biological or foster family had anything to do with his abduction
William’s status as a foster child has been a closely guarded secret of the courts and police since his disappearance nearly three years ago
William went missing while playing in the front yard of his foster grandmother’s home at 10.30am.
There is no suggestion William Tyrrell’s biological or foster family had anything to do with his abduction.
Police, helicopters and up to 200 volunteers helped search for William in the days following his disappearance.
Kendall State Forest, which is located directly across the road from his foster grandmother’s house, was searched extensively.
A $1 million reward is being offered for any information that leads to the discovery of the young boy
Descriptions of one of the cars that was parked outside William’s grandmother’s home
William Spedding was questioned as a person of interest in the case after it was revealed he gave a quote to William Tyrrell’s foster grandmother days before his disappearance.
A Spider-Man toy was reportedly found in the back of Spedding’s repairman van. Police refused to confirm these claims.
Police searched his home but found nothing tying him to the abduction. Spedding is facing historic child sex abuse charges in Victoria.
Detectives also questioned Kim Loweke, who is best friends with William’s grandmother Natalie Collins, over her whereabouts on the day the three-year-old went missing.
According to A Current Affair, police became interested when the two women applied to the Department of Housing for a three-bedroom home in western Sydney.
William Spedding was questioned as a person of interest in the case after it was revealed he gave a quote to William Tyrrell’s foster grandmother days before his disappearance
Detectives also questioned Kim Loweke (pictured), who is best friends with William’s grandmother Natalie Collins, over her whereabouts on the day the three-year-old went missing
Ms Loweke also has personal links with Tony Jones (pictured) and Spedding – two accused paedophiles that were both named as persons of interest in the case.
Ms Loweke also has personal links with Tony Jones and Spedding – two accused paedophiles that were both named as persons of interest in the case.
Ms Loweke admitted that the set of coincidences were strange, but denied having anything to do with William Tyrrell’s disappearance.
‘I was thinking about how the situation is so weird, it is weird. I can’t work it out, me minds going a hundred miles an hour going what’s going on,’ she told ACA.
‘I don’t know why my name’s come up in the situation I seriously don’t know,’ she said, trailing off with laughter.
Ms Collins said it was ‘disgusting’ that police had questioned her best friend and cast doubt over the pair’s intentions with requesting a new home
Ms Collins said it was ‘disgusting’ that police had questioned her best friend and cast doubt over the pair’s intentions with requesting a new home.
‘That’s just disgusting, I’m sorry, because like I wouldn’t hide him. Like Kim said it would be good if we could find him, we would hand him over anyway,’ she said.
A $1 million reward is being offered for any information that leads to the discovery of the young boy.
His story was brought back into national attention after convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby was pictured with the infamous image of William in his Spiderman costume on the front of her handbag as she was flying home to Australia
Corby left her Bali villa brandishing the bag featuring the image of William, a stunt that surprised his family
His story was brought back into national attention after convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby was pictured with the infamous image of William in his Spider-Man costume on the front of her handbag as she was flying home to Australia.
Corby left her Bali villa brandishing the bag featuring the image of William, a stunt that surprised his family.
‘While the Where’s William Campaign appreciates that Schapelle Corby has shown concern regarding little William’s disappearance…we are not happy,’ the family posted on the Facebook page spreading awareness on his story.
‘William’s family and the campaign have absolutely no association with Corby, her supporters or her family.
‘We had no prior knowledge of Schapelle’s intention to use William’s image in this way.’
Anyone who may be able to help investigations and has information on William’s whereabouts is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.