John Noonan

Apparently a fan of this site, Noonan headed the task-force investigating the 1988 Walsh Street police shootings.

Raids were made on all known associates of Gary Abdallah, a prime suspect, including his girlfriends family and the family of known criminal and friend Jedd Houghton.

News filtered back to Abdallah that police intended to kill him if they got to him first.

Gary kept away from police until visiting Detective Noonan at St Kilda Rd Police HQ on February 22, 1989.

Noonan told him that he was not wanted in any relation to the case.

Abdallah's car, suspected of being used in the getaway, had been sold before the murders.

It was later obtained by police although there tests proved nothing.

He claimed not to have heard of the murders until the following day in the newspaper.

Abdallah also said he never used telephones throwing police accusations that he'd phoned Peter McKevoy and Trevor Pettingill, also suspected of being involved in the police shootings, out the window.

Abdallah told Noonan that he didn't believe his friend Jedd Houghton would ever have anything to do with another suspect, Jason Ryan.

Abdallah thought that Houghton couldn't stand him thinking that he was untrustworthy with a big mouth.

Noonan sent Abdallah to arson over an arson matter.

He was then bailed.

Although Noonan assured him of his presumed innocence, Abdallah was immediately trailed, his new Drummond St. address bugged.

Abdallah's lease ended on Sunday April 9, 1989. Police surveillance was also about to end.

Abdallah left his flat momentarily and was trailed by police who intercepted him and returned him to the flat. 

It was there that Abdallah allegedly pulled an imitation pistol on Detectives Cliff Lockwood and Dermot Avon.

Lockwood fired six shots from his gun and then let off another one from his partners weapon.

In late April 1989, a rift apparently developed between Noonan and fellow Walsh Street investigator, Inspector David Sprague.  

Groups headed by the two split into their respective camps and refused to share information or even communicate.

The rift worsened in late July with the prosecutions star witness, Wendy Peirce refusing to speak with Noonan and two other task force officers.

This had quite a bit to do with the many raids on Peirce's Chestnut St home which were headed by Noonan.

After Victor Peirce was shot dead in Bay St., Port Melbourne on May 1, 2002, Noonan said Peirce finally got what he deserved.

Noonan said that while he still believed Peirce to be one of those responsible for the Walsh Street murders, he did not condone his murder.

"A jury can only base their decision on the evidence that's put before them," Acting Superintendent Noonan said.

"Obviously we don't condone anyone meeting their demise in that way, but I suppose one could argue he's finally been sentenced for all his unlawful activities.

"I don't have any sympathy and certainly no sadness on a personal basis."

"It's just nice that people pay for their sins," he said.

"Certainly I don't view it with any sadness. He's been a career criminal and, knowing what he's done over the years, there's certainly no sadness on my part."

Det-Insp Noonan said he had spoken to one of the murdered Constable's fathers, Frank Eyre, after the Peirce shooting.

"He believes, like me, that what goes around comes around," Noonan said.

"I don't think he's happy or relieved. We don't get any joy out of it, but he's not sad about it either."

On May 7, 2002, Peirce's half-brother, Peter John Allen, a man who spent over 30 years in jail on drugs, rape and robbery charges, spoke to a small media contingent telling them that he could not be held responsible for the actions of his "family" in the wake of Noonan's statements after Peirce's death.

Allen used the phrasing abilities gained by representing himself in court for many years in an animated 60 second speech.

Allen, on bail for armed robbery charges, asked that "there' be no interference from the Victorian Police Force and that Insp. John Noonan be restrained from his comments."

Peter Allen said Noonan was happy Peirce had died after being angered by the failure of his case against him in 1988.

"He never got a conviction, he never got promoted...that's not our fault", Allen said.

"Because of Noonan's comments, I cannot be responsible for the actions my brothers (who are everywhere) could take.

"Anybody who thanks the Pettingill, Allen, Peirce faction are dead - are wrong," he warned.

Police would not respond saying they didn't want to give Allen more publicity than he deserved.

On October 1, 2005, The Age published a story in which Wendy Peirce said she lied to save her husband from a life in prison.

The star witness who refused to testify against four men charged with the Walsh Street ambush murders of Constables Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre admitted that Victor Peirce was guilty as charged — 17 years after the murders that changed the way police around Australia perform their duties.

She said the murders were carried out as as a payback after detectives killed Peirce's best friend, Graeme Jensen, during a botched arrest in Narre Warren a day earlier.

Mrs Peirce said her husband showed no remorse over the police killings.

"He just said, 'They deserved their whack. It could have been me.'

"It (Walsh Street) was spur of the moment, we were on the run. Victor was the organiser," Mrs Peirce told The Age.

She said she was staying in a Tullamarine motel with Peirce but he left during the night to join members of his gang to set up the Walsh Street murders.

Mrs Peirce named the shooters as Jedd Houghton, who was later shot dead by police, and Peter McEvoy.

She also said the car abandoned in Walsh Street was stolen by Gary Abdallah, who was shot dead by police in a Carlton flat.

Mrs Peirce said her husband always believed police would never prove he led the ambush team. "He covered his tracks and he didn't think he'd get pinched," she said.

Wendy Peirce was persuaded by police to become a prosecution witness against her husband, but after 18 months in protection, costing nearly $2 million, she refused to give evidence in his Supreme Court trial.

She was later sentenced to 18 months' jail with a minimum of nine months for perjury.

Mrs Peirce claims she was never going to give evidence and planned to sabotage the police case from within by failing to testify.

But senior police say she changed her mind because the court process took too long, she didn't like witness protection and Peirce and his family persuaded her to return to them.

The joint head of the investigation taskforce, Inspector John Noonan, said he had no doubt that if Wendy Peirce had given truthful evidence the four accused men would have been convicted.

Mrs Peirce said she had finally decided to tell the truth because she wanted to sever all ties with the underworld.

"I don't want my children connected to the criminal world," she said.

"I loved Victor, but now that he is gone I feel I have been freed. Now every time I hear a car door slam I don't have to worry that it is the police about to raid us. I think of all the murders and feel so sorry for their families. No one deserves this."