Judge’s decision eases stowaway’s fears

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 24

Judge’s decision eases stowaway’s fears

PA Auckland A stowaway, Harry Gauci, on Thursday kissed the ground in the court cells and. gave thanks to God after learning he would not be returned to Australia. The Dunedin-born man, aged 40,. pleaded guilty before Judge Bremner in the District Court at Auckland, to secreting himself on the cruise ship Oriana on New Year’s Day. He was fined $4O, ordered to pay costs of $35 and told to make restitution of $4OO to the ship’s owners by May Later outside the court, Gauci said he went with his family to Australia 30 years ago. He developed a drink problem and got into “a lot of trouble.’’ In desperation he decided to return to his native country to make a fresh start. Lack of money led him to the idea of stowing away in

the Oriana in Sydney, and he acquired a boarding pass. He mingled with passengers until discovered. Gauci said he made his decision to leave Australia after being paroled from prison on December 4 after the imposition of a jail sentence for hijacking the Manly ferry at Sydney early last year. He said he did not remember the incident, but learned from the Court case that he had boarded the ferry after drinking two bottles of vodka. The Court was told Gauci hid a bottle under his jacket so it looked like a weapon and ordered the skipper to put out to sea. The police were called and fired five shots over his head. Gauci said that during an alcoholic blackout he had also stolen two ambulances. He thought he was trying to get to hospital for a “detox.”

He did go into hospital for three months to “dry out” but when he came out friends encouraged him to start drinking again. “I had nd chance in Australia,” he said. Tm 40 and I want to live a decent life from now on and reach 60,” he said. “I want to join a programme for alcoholics.” Gauci said he hoped “somebody out there” would give him a job. He now knew nobody in New Zealand, but “I just want a chance.” His lawyer, Mr Bob Hesketh, said arrangements had been made for Gauci to Stay in a Salvation Army home in the interim. Gaud’s fears of being deported to Australia were groundless, he said, for a person could not be deported from his own country.