Comments on: Hey Dad..! http://sarahmonahan.com Not just another Former Child Star Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:20:52 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Paul http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-137 Paul Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:45:59 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-137 Oh, when is julie mcgregor getting married and will you and the cast make it to the wedding. Its good to hear you are into your filming projets again. Its a shame that the cast will be reunited in these circumstances. I hope the wedding will be a happy occasion for you all to get together. Oh, when is julie mcgregor getting married and will you and the cast make it to the wedding. Its good to hear you are into your filming projets again. Its a shame that the cast will be reunited in these circumstances. I hope the wedding will be a happy occasion for you all to get together.

]]> By: Olli http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-134 Olli Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:49:53 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-134 Hallo Sarah! In German we stand behind you.We love the series but we didn´t like what we now hear.Stay strong! Hallo Sarah!

In German we stand behind you.We love the series but we didn´t like what we now hear.Stay strong!

]]> By: Sarah http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-122 Sarah Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:13:35 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-122 Anytime I was asked to do a reunion, my first question was whether or not he was going to be there. I made it clear I was NOT going to be involved if he was. Thankfully, it seems so did most of the rest of the cast. I do think this will end up in court. The police are still busy investigating and interviewing people. I know the Germans have about 5 DVD sets. I think there's 3 sets in Australia. None of us get any money from the DVD sets unfortunately, so I really don't see any of the cast pushing for more DVD sets... I'm sure in a few months you'll see a lot more of the cast together, even if it is just in a courtroom. I didn't get to make it back this weekend, but look for pics of the cast together at Julie's wedding. Anytime I was asked to do a reunion, my first question was whether or not he was going to be there. I made it clear I was NOT going to be involved if he was. Thankfully, it seems so did most of the rest of the cast.
I do think this will end up in court. The police are still busy investigating and interviewing people.
I know the Germans have about 5 DVD sets. I think there’s 3 sets in Australia. None of us get any money from the DVD sets unfortunately, so I really don’t see any of the cast pushing for more DVD sets…
I’m sure in a few months you’ll see a lot more of the cast together, even if it is just in a courtroom. I didn’t get to make it back this weekend, but look for pics of the cast together at Julie’s wedding.

]]> By: Paul http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-118 Paul Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:31:32 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-118 just think if you did speak up 20 or so years ago he would have gone and so would hey dad...! just imagine the show would go either without him or with him, it only lasted a few months after robert left. I just want to ask did you dread doing the reunion specials you did did you think you would have to face him again on where are they now as he refuses to part take in any reunion. I heard that the brisbane radio reunion was not going to happen if robert was involved? Do you think this will end up in court? I think after all this as you are doing is to "get on with life". But its good that most of the cast are still good friends and maybe there culd be a 25th anniversary reunion or another dvd relase. We need that sarah! I love the clips you are posting on here. just think if you did speak up 20 or so years ago he would have gone and so would hey dad…! just imagine the show would go either without him or with him, it only lasted a few months after robert left. I just want to ask did you dread doing the reunion specials you did did you think you would have to face him again on where are they now as he refuses to part take in any reunion. I heard that the brisbane radio reunion was not going to happen if robert was involved? Do you think this will end up in court? I think after all this as you are doing is to “get on with life”. But its good that most of the cast are still good friends and maybe there culd be a 25th anniversary reunion or another dvd relase. We need that sarah! I love the clips you are posting on here.

]]> By: Sarah http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-117 Sarah Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:24:35 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-117 I want to thank all of you who have been so supportive and encouraging throughout this whole thing. Some days I wonder why I spoke up, then I get emails from people letting me know I did the right thing and it makes me feel much better. I'm looking forward to, and dreading the next chapter at the same time. As hard as it is, I think it will all be worth it in the end... I want to thank all of you who have been so supportive and encouraging throughout this whole thing. Some days I wonder why I spoke up, then I get emails from people letting me know I did the right thing and it makes me feel much better.
I’m looking forward to, and dreading the next chapter at the same time. As hard as it is, I think it will all be worth it in the end…

]]> By: Diane http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-116 Diane Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:45:14 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-116 Sarah says: August 2, 2010 at 7:00 am Unfortunately, real life doesn’t work like an episode of Law and Order. Most victim statements take about 2 weeks each. Then there’s all the other witnesses that also have to be interviewed. I got an email from the police over the weekend letting me know they are still investigating and interviewing people. They are taking their time, making sure they have all their evidence, instead of going off half cocked and getting an arrest warrant and then having it thrown out. Sometimes in life, you just have to be patient…. I think if Robert did a runner, it would be seen as a huge admission of guilt. Probably more so than telling ACA you’ve got defamation lawyers on the case a couple of days before you’ve been named. Hi Sarah Just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you - so brave and strong back then when a child, and now as an adult - I have been watching out for any news on how things were going for you :) Thank you for letting people know here on your site that the police are being meticulous and building an iron-clad case which will hopefully bring Hughes to justice! Sarah says:
August 2, 2010 at 7:00 am
Unfortunately, real life doesn’t work like an episode of Law and Order. Most victim statements take about 2 weeks each. Then there’s all the other witnesses that also have to be interviewed.
I got an email from the police over the weekend letting me know they are still investigating and interviewing people. They are taking their time, making sure they have all their evidence, instead of going off half cocked and getting an arrest warrant and then having it thrown out.
Sometimes in life, you just have to be patient…. I think if Robert did a runner, it would be seen as a huge admission of guilt. Probably more so than telling ACA you’ve got defamation lawyers on the case a couple of days before you’ve been named.

Hi Sarah

Just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you – so brave and strong back then when a child, and now as an adult – I have been watching out for any news on how things were going for you :)

Thank you for letting people know here on your site that the police are being meticulous and building an iron-clad case which will hopefully bring Hughes to justice!

]]> By: Malcolm Young http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-113 Malcolm Young Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:51:49 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-113 Sarah, The best sources of up to date news from Singapore are The Straits Times website (http://www.straitstimes.com/Home.html) and the Channelnewsaia website (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/index.htm). At the time of your interview on ACA, I don't think there was any news at all in the Singapore news about it, which was a little bit surprising. Since then, there has definitely be nothing, which is not surprising. What has been surprising, is there have been no media updates in the Australian press since then - unless I've missed them (I also rarely watch ACA). I doubt there was any involvement about keeping it out of the press in Singapore. My presumption is that, as the alleged offences did not concern a Singaporean, and they didn't occur in Singapore, that the media would not really consider it newsworthy. In the event that he is arrested there, it certainly will be though. Sarah,
The best sources of up to date news from Singapore are The Straits Times website (http://www.straitstimes.com/Home.html) and the Channelnewsaia website (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/index.htm).
At the time of your interview on ACA, I don’t think there was any news at all in the Singapore news about it, which was a little bit surprising. Since then, there has definitely be nothing, which is not surprising. What has been surprising, is there have been no media updates in the Australian press since then – unless I’ve missed them (I also rarely watch ACA).
I doubt there was any involvement about keeping it out of the press in Singapore. My presumption is that, as the alleged offences did not concern a Singaporean, and they didn’t occur in Singapore, that the media would not really consider it newsworthy. In the event that he is arrested there, it certainly will be though.

]]> By: Sarah http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-112 Sarah Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:26:35 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-112 Lets hope the Singaporean Police are also snooping around seeing if he continued his ways over there.... It would have to be a very large bail to keep him grounded. Robyn is a very rich woman. It would be nice if they took his passport so he can't flee, especially since he is so well funded. I think right now all the other girls are having a little down time, building themselves up mentally for when we have to face him in court. I know I'm very strong emotionally, but even I have my shitty days. I'm really not looking forward to going to court and having to look him in those beady eyes. I was quite happy to never have to see him again. I just have to take a deep breath and know that I'm doing the right thing and soldier on. Has there been anything in the media in Singapore about it? It seems like they did a pretty good job of keeping it out of the news there.... Lets hope the Singaporean Police are also snooping around seeing if he continued his ways over there…. It would have to be a very large bail to keep him grounded. Robyn is a very rich woman. It would be nice if they took his passport so he can’t flee, especially since he is so well funded.
I think right now all the other girls are having a little down time, building themselves up mentally for when we have to face him in court. I know I’m very strong emotionally, but even I have my shitty days. I’m really not looking forward to going to court and having to look him in those beady eyes. I was quite happy to never have to see him again. I just have to take a deep breath and know that I’m doing the right thing and soldier on.
Has there been anything in the media in Singapore about it? It seems like they did a pretty good job of keeping it out of the news there….

]]> By: Malcolm Young http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-111 Malcolm Young Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:31:30 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-111 Thanks for your response Sarah. I appreciate what you say, and from what I've read you can appreciate what the police are doing, how careful they are being (and need to be) and perhaps the legalistics involved. My post was from the point of view of someone that has lived in Singapore for a considerable time, and although I'm not employed in the legal industry, I've taken an extreme amount of interest in the criminal justice system in that tiny country. Why? Well, I benefited from living in a country that most people consider a very safe place to live, and is generally considered to have one of the lowest crime rates in the world. In reality though, it is actually a ridiculously safe place to live, to the point that you wonder how anyone could be so unlucky as to become a victim of crime there. A little off topic perhaps, but one of the main reasons is the judiciary's enforcement of the law, whereby a lot more weight is given to the rights of the victim and general deterrance, whereas in Australia, a lot more weight is given to whether imprisonment will be of any benefit to an offender found guilty and whether there are any alternatives to prison. Take for example, yesterday, I guy in Adelaide was found guilty of around 10 serious sexual assault cases that he had committed around Adelaide earlier this year. He was given a 2 year suspended sentence. Yes, that's right, he won't even go to jail. Yet in Singapore, if he committed 1/10 of that amount of sexual assault (generally termed "molest"), he would be imprisoned and caned. So what's more of a deterrant to others - a suspended sentence, or jail and caning?? This is probably coming across as a lot of rambling. My point is, it is ironic and a damn shame, that Hughes is living in a country where the majority of crimes are treated and indeed punished a heck of a lot more severely than would be the case in Australia - and yet, as a result of Australia's slow legal system, he can live a free man until the police in Australia have their paperwork in order. He's living in a city where "law and order" is extremely efficient and it's very difficult to run, or hide in such a small place. Ever been to Changi Airport? The whole country is run like that - efficiency beyond comprehension, and the courts/police are no exception. In Singapore, I can say with a fair bit of confidence, that a similar type of case would have resulted in an arrest, and the trial would have already happened. If he had been found guilty, he would have also been sentenced, and any appeals would have been held. He would already been serving a prison sentence. In Australia though, due to overcrowded court schedules, trials are quite often not held for another 12 months or more after arrest. So, what I'd really love to see done, is the police try to get an arrest warrant with the evidence they have. If this is obtained, it should be sent to Singapore without delay. (Did you hear the recent case of Oliver Fricker? He was a Swiss banker, working in Singapore, and was arrested for breaking into a MRT depot and vandalising 2 rail cars. After he was brought to court, he was offered bail of S$100,000. That's about A$80K. Can you imagine a court in Australia offering bail of A$80,000 for such "trvial" (as seen in Australia) offence? They would be unlucky if they were fined $500!! But Oliver Fricker's passport was also impounded, so that he couldn't leave the country before the trial. He's since been found guilty and is in prison, waiting for his caning.). For Hughes, this being a much more serious case, I would be surprised if he were offered bail and think he would be remanded in custody at Queenstown remand centre, awaiting extradiction (which would only take a few months at most). Even if he were offered bail, it would be a large amount (by Australian standards) and his passport would be impounded in that case. After that, it would be up to the Australian prosecutors to get a conviction. So, that really is the key - give the Singapore police the authority to have him arrested, so that his passport can be impounded. I'm annoyed this hasn't happened already. Thanks for your response Sarah. I appreciate what you say, and from what I’ve read you can appreciate what the police are doing, how careful they are being (and need to be) and perhaps the legalistics involved.
My post was from the point of view of someone that has lived in Singapore for a considerable time, and although I’m not employed in the legal industry, I’ve taken an extreme amount of interest in the criminal justice system in that tiny country. Why? Well, I benefited from living in a country that most people consider a very safe place to live, and is generally considered to have one of the lowest crime rates in the world. In reality though, it is actually a ridiculously safe place to live, to the point that you wonder how anyone could be so unlucky as to become a victim of crime there.
A little off topic perhaps, but one of the main reasons is the judiciary’s enforcement of the law, whereby a lot more weight is given to the rights of the victim and general deterrance, whereas in Australia, a lot more weight is given to whether imprisonment will be of any benefit to an offender found guilty and whether there are any alternatives to prison. Take for example, yesterday, I guy in Adelaide was found guilty of around 10 serious sexual assault cases that he had committed around Adelaide earlier this year. He was given a 2 year suspended sentence. Yes, that’s right, he won’t even go to jail. Yet in Singapore, if he committed 1/10 of that amount of sexual assault (generally termed “molest”), he would be imprisoned and caned. So what’s more of a deterrant to others – a suspended sentence, or jail and caning??
This is probably coming across as a lot of rambling. My point is, it is ironic and a damn shame, that Hughes is living in a country where the majority of crimes are treated and indeed punished a heck of a lot more severely than would be the case in Australia – and yet, as a result of Australia’s slow legal system, he can live a free man until the police in Australia have their paperwork in order. He’s living in a city where “law and order” is extremely efficient and it’s very difficult to run, or hide in such a small place. Ever been to Changi Airport? The whole country is run like that – efficiency beyond comprehension, and the courts/police are no exception.
In Singapore, I can say with a fair bit of confidence, that a similar type of case would have resulted in an arrest, and the trial would have already happened. If he had been found guilty, he would have also been sentenced, and any appeals would have been held. He would already been serving a prison sentence. In Australia though, due to overcrowded court schedules, trials are quite often not held for another 12 months or more after arrest.
So, what I’d really love to see done, is the police try to get an arrest warrant with the evidence they have. If this is obtained, it should be sent to Singapore without delay. (Did you hear the recent case of Oliver Fricker? He was a Swiss banker, working in Singapore, and was arrested for breaking into a MRT depot and vandalising 2 rail cars. After he was brought to court, he was offered bail of S$100,000. That’s about A$80K. Can you imagine a court in Australia offering bail of A$80,000 for such “trvial” (as seen in Australia) offence? They would be unlucky if they were fined $500!! But Oliver Fricker’s passport was also impounded, so that he couldn’t leave the country before the trial. He’s since been found guilty and is in prison, waiting for his caning.). For Hughes, this being a much more serious case, I would be surprised if he were offered bail and think he would be remanded in custody at Queenstown remand centre, awaiting extradiction (which would only take a few months at most). Even if he were offered bail, it would be a large amount (by Australian standards) and his passport would be impounded in that case. After that, it would be up to the Australian prosecutors to get a conviction.

So, that really is the key – give the Singapore police the authority to have him arrested, so that his passport can be impounded. I’m annoyed this hasn’t happened already.

]]> By: Sarah http://sarahmonahan.com/the-early-years/hey-dad/comment-page-1#comment-109 Sarah Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:05 +0000 http://sarahmonahan.com/?page_id=28#comment-109 Unfortunately, real life doesn't work like an episode of Law and Order. Most victim statements take about 2 weeks each. Then there's all the other witnesses that also have to be interviewed. I got an email from the police over the weekend letting me know they are still investigating and interviewing people. They are taking their time, making sure they have all their evidence, instead of going off half cocked and getting an arrest warrant and then having it thrown out. Sometimes in life, you just have to be patient.... I think if Robert did a runner, it would be seen as a huge admission of guilt. Probably more so than telling ACA you've got defamation lawyers on the case a couple of days <em>before</em> you've been named. Unfortunately, real life doesn’t work like an episode of Law and Order. Most victim statements take about 2 weeks each. Then there’s all the other witnesses that also have to be interviewed.
I got an email from the police over the weekend letting me know they are still investigating and interviewing people. They are taking their time, making sure they have all their evidence, instead of going off half cocked and getting an arrest warrant and then having it thrown out.
Sometimes in life, you just have to be patient…. I think if Robert did a runner, it would be seen as a huge admission of guilt. Probably more so than telling ACA you’ve got defamation lawyers on the case a couple of days before you’ve been named.

]]>