Two days after he allegedly stole a camera from a photographer killed in the Bondi Beach massacre, Danny Ridley gushed about the victim's 'beautiful aura' on social media. Peter Meagher, 61, was one of 15 people who died when Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire at the Chanukah By The Sea event on December 14.
Police allege Ridley, 35, stole and then pawned Mr Meagher's Canon camera for $800. He was arrested and charged with a series of offences on Wednesday.
Instagram Tribute
In his 193-word Instagram tribute to Mr Meagher, which included gruesome graphic details of victims' injuries, Ridley said he would never forget 'how much joy was in and around' the photographer. 'Peter, we worked beside each other on Sunday. You were taking photos of the event and for a company/service that printed photo magnets,' Ridley wrote on an Instagram Story. 'I introduced myself as the photographer for the Chabad and for the Chanukah event and your face lit up, your eyes were kind as you shook my hand, your aura was just beautiful.'
'When it was all over and I returned to the grass to treat the victims in any way I could, I saw you under a cloth and I froze. That's when it really sunk in. If I had stayed, and we were still side-by-side, it could have been me - or me too.'
'You didn't deserve this. No one did. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and may you be in a better place.'
Claims of Narrow Escape
In other posts, Ridley claimed he locked eyes with one of the shooters before he 'pointed his rifle and shot at [him]'. 'Luckily it barely grazed my ribs,' Ridley captioned a photo of a faint red graze on his torso. 'Thanks everyone for all your messages. I can't reply to everyone and re-live the experience from scratch more than 100 times.'
'It was like a war zone. Bodies everywhere. I saw [GRAPHIC DETAIL DELETED] trying to stop bleeding wounds and doing CPR.' Ridley said he had left Archer Park to get his drone from his car just minutes before bullets started flying, and was only 20 metres away from the Bondi Beach footbridge when the shooting began, forcing him to duck for cover.
Widow's Plea
Ridley's arrest comes months after Mr Meagher's grieving widow Virginia begged for the camera to be returned. 'As you all know, my husband Peter's life was tragically taken at Bondi on 14 December,' she wrote in a Facebook post in March. 'It is now apparent that someone, other than a known authority, picked up his camera from Archer Park. I would very much like to have his camera returned... If you know anything about the Canon camera, I'd love to hear from you.'
Australians shared their support, with one saying: 'It's hard to fathom someone would be that low, Virginia – I'm so sorry. I pray that decency prevails and it finds a way back to you.' Another wrote: 'That is appalling - sincerely hope they return Peter's camera to you!'
Arrest and Charges
On Wednesday, police raided a home in Marayong, Sydney's west, and arrested Ridley. He was charged with larceny between $2,000 and $5,000, disposing of stolen property, furnishing false information to a licensee, possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, and possessing and supplying drugs. During a search of a car, police seized a small amount of white crystal powder and electronics. Ridley was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Blacktown Local Court on 22 June.
Peter Meagher, grandson of Wallabies Hall of Famer Wally Meagher, was a much-loved club figure of the Randwick Rugby Club and former first grade team manager. The former NSW police officer was named the club's volunteer of the year in 2020.
