Vic: Ablett honour offensive, says father of dead woman
MELBOURNE, April 22 AAP - The father of a woman who died after a drug and alcohol bingewith disgraced AFL star Gary Ablett is angered by the former footballer's latest honour.
Gary Ablett was honoured for services to football with a Centenary of Federation Medal,announced yesterday.
Prime Minister John Howard, himself a medallist, said 15,500 medals had been approvedto honour prominent Australians in community service, sport, fashion, popular culture,science, the arts, media, politics and business.
Geelong woman Alisha Horan, 20, who idolised the former star Geelong footballer, diedin Ablett's Melbourne motel room in February 2000 after he gave her heroin and ecstasy.
Alisha's father Alan today said Ablett's inclusion in the honours was offensive andbeyond belief.
"When I was told about it, I didn't believe it. I thought they've got to be joking,"
Mr Horan told AAP.
"An award like that couldn't have gone to a less deserving person.
"I do find it offensive, especially after he was convicted of drug charges.
"How they could give him a medal I have no idea. Someone must not read the papers or something."
Ablett has failed to be included in the AFL Hall of Fame, despite qualifying two yearsago, because of the Alisha Horan incident.
Mr Howard said the Centenary of Federation medal was created to recognise the achievementsof a cross-section of the Australian community.
Other famous medallists included Eddie McGuire, Steve Bracks, Lindsay Fox, Sigrid Thornton,Vanessa Amorosi, Jeff Kennett, Peter Reith, Tony Abbott, Don Argus, Cathy Freeman, SimonCrean, Gough Whitlam and Pat Rafter.
AAP clm/gfr/tnf/jlw
KEYWORD: MEDALS ABLETT
No comments:
Post a Comment