Man charged for stealing camera from Bondi terror attack victim
Consensus Summary
A 35-year-old man, identified by SMH and NEWSCOMAU as Danny James Ridley, was charged on May 20, 2026, with stealing camera equipment from Peter Meagher, a 61-year-old retired NSW police officer killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14, 2025. Police allege Ridley, who was also a photographer at the Hanukkah event, stole Meagher’s camera and pawned it for $800 before being arrested during a raid in Marayong. Authorities seized the camera, an SD card with Meagher’s final photos, handcuffs, electronic devices, and a small amount of white crystal powder. Ridley faces multiple charges, including larceny, drug offenses, and weapons violations, and was granted bail to appear in court on June 22. The attack, which killed 15 people, remains under investigation, with ongoing inquiries into security failures and law enforcement responses.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Peter Meagher, a 61-year-old retired NSW police officer and photographer, was killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14, 2025, while photographing the Hanukkah event.
- A 35-year-old man named Danny James Ridley was arrested on May 20, 2026, and charged with larceny (item valued over $2000), disposing of stolen property, furnishing false information to a licensee, possessing/supplying prohibited drugs, and possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.
- Police seized a camera, handcuffs, electronic devices, and a small amount of white crystal powder during a search of a Marayong home on May 20, 2026.
- Ridley was granted conditional bail and will appear in Blacktown Local Court on June 22, 2026.
- The Bondi Beach terror attack killed 15 people, including Meagher, during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025.
- Meagher was a former NSW police officer (35 years of service, retired as detective sergeant in 2021) and a passionate photographer.
- The stolen camera’s SD card, containing Meagher’s last photographs, was recovered during the raid.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Meagher’s family described him as 'struck down in retirement while pursuing his passion for taking photos' in a 2025 statement.
- The larceny charge specifies the stolen item was valued between $2000 and $5000, not the pawn amount.
- Ridley allegedly hid behind a parking meter during the shooting and suffered a gash to his left rib.
- Meagher’s wife Virginia worked at a Chabad-run school and said, 'As he left at 4.15pm that Sunday, I said, “Give them my love.”'
- Meagher was a volunteer and known as 'Randwick rugby royalty,' with a tribute 'Marzo Memorial Round' held in April 2026.
- A public inquiry into the attack’s security response is ongoing, with hearings examining terrorism threat levels and agency conduct.
- Meagher was survived by his wife Virginia and brothers Greg, David, Andrew, and Paul.
- Naveed Akram, the gunman, was later charged with murder and terrorism offences related to the attack.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC do not specify Ridley’s full name, while SMH and NEWSCOMAU explicitly name him as Danny James Ridley.
- SMH and NEWSCOMAU state Ridley was charged with possessing/supplying drugs, but the Guardian and ABC only mention possessing drugs without specifying supplying.
Source Articles
Man charged with stealing camera equipment from Bondi shooting victim in aftermath of terror attack
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