The following comments may be attributed to Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald, Canterbury Police Criminal Investigations Manager:
Police are not able to comment on the specifics of this case, as the matter has not yet gone to sentencing and remains before the Courts. Police will not be available for interviews on this matter.
We can confirm that NZ Police were advised of the deportation of Mr McLaughlin to New Zealand in 2001, through the NZ Police Liaison Office in Sydney, who had been advised by Australian immigration authorities. Information regarding his convictions was also noted in 2001.
The general process is that where NZ Police receive appropriate notification from a foreign law enforcement agency about the return of New Zealanders who have been convicted of crimes and served sentences in another country, NZ Police, through Interpol, will seek to obtain as much relevant information as possible about that person’s background.
However, the type of information that may be obtained will be influenced by the deporting country’s privacy laws and other applicable legislation.
If a person has legitimately completed their sentence served in another country and been released, New Zealand authorities have no legal mandate to impose further conditions upon their release.
Under New Zealand law there are constraints on what Police can disclose to other parties about a person's previous criminal history.
ENDS
Media note: Police will not be available for further comment or interviews on this matter.