Ferret not Greg...shakes head..
Was given permission to park, he says ... bikie Greg Hirst. Source: The Daily Telegraph
BIKIE Greg Hirst fought the law and the law won.
The 58-year-old took on detectives from Strike Force Raptor - set up to combat bikie gang activity - over a $84 parking fine yesterday.
He was among 30 men booked for ignoring a no-parking zone on Macquarie St on June 23 last year as they protested against anti-gang legislation at Parliament House.
Mr Hirst does not dispute parking at the location but believes Inspector David Maquire, then a detective attached to Strike Force Raptor, gave the bikies' permission because they were "exercising their democratic right to protest".
It took four hours and the evidence of two police officers for Mr Hirst's appeal to be dismissed in Downing Centre Local Court.
The show continued outside with Mr Hirst, the sergeant-at-arms of the Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle club, giving two press conferences, flanked by Ferret, the sergeant-at-arms of Finks Blacktown chapter, and Brendo, a member of Lone Wolf, and other bikies.
At the end of the day, he walked away with a $200 fine, plus court costs and a promise to appeal.
During evidence, Mr Hirst said he spoke with Insp Maquire after the men had already parked in the no-parking zone.
"If he had instructed us to move them, we would have done so," he told the court.
He later told Insp Maquire a police officer had video-taped registration plates of the bikes and asked if he could stop the bikies being fined.
Insp Maquire denied giving permission for the bikies to park at the location. "I gave him an undertaking that I would be speaking to my superiors about the parking tickets," he said.
He then telephoned Mr Hirst and said the fines would be issued and that he was in trouble for allowing the bikes to remain in the zone.
Magistrate Alex Mijovich repeatedly lost patience with Mr Hirst's barrister Robert Wensley throughout the hearing saying it was just a "parking ticket".
He also said it was "greatly irrelevant" as to whether the bikies had permission because the offence had already been committed at the time of the conversation.
Another 23 bikies are appealing against their fines. Their cases return to court next month.
Mr Hirst said he would refer Insp Maquire's evidence to the Police Integrity Commission.
