When Sydney's underworld was turning against itself in the mid 1990s at the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption, Bruce Galea flatly refused to join in. Criminals and crooked police were lining up to give evidence against each other but the illegal gambling identity kept his mouth shut and took the consequences. For refusing to tell what he knew of how Sydney really operated Galea was jailed for contempt in July 1995 and served two years and three months in Long Bay jail. It was a record sentence for such an offence but earned Galea the lasting respect of the colourful players in his old school world for always staying staunch. If you loved this article and also you would like to receive more info relating to รูเล็ตออนไลน์ generously visit our own internet site. 'You've got to do what you've got to do and I've got to do what I've got to do,' Galea supposedly told Justice James Wood before he was sent to prison.
Bruce Galea's father Perce was known as the Prince of Punters and was one of Sydney's illegal casino kings.
Perce is pictured left with Bruce and Bruce's third wife Cindy at Warwick Farm racecourse in 1977
Galea had known what was coming. Before appearing at the commission he had moved out of his eastern suburbs apartment, put his furniture into storage and even brought along his own toothbrush. Bruce William John Galea, who has died aged 84, was the son of Perce Galea - the 'Prince of Punters' who for decades was Sydney's most prominent illegal casino king. Galea junior would not gain the notoriety of his father but went on to become the reputed biggest illegal gambler in the country, named in parliament as an associate of violent criminals and a briber of police. The Galeas were Maltese Catholics and Bruce grew up with older brother Clive at Clovelly and Coogee in Sydney's beachside eastern suburbs in the 1940s and 50s. Clive would become a solicitor, radio producer, rugby league commentator and novelist - as well as spending a stint behind bars for fraud - but Bruce would follow closely in their father's footsteps.
Galea is pictured at Sydney Airport before he left to claim the body of his wife Patricia after she was shot dead.
His refusal to give evidence at the Wood Royal Commission won him widespread admiration from the criminal fraternity
The killers escaped with diamond rings, $400 in cash and two mink coats but missed $6,000 hidden in the freezer. Galea's reacted with horror back in Sydney, saying: 'The bludgers just let go...
They shot her!' Despite rumours at the time, there was no link established between the Galea family's criminal interests and Patricia's murder. In a stunning case of apparent police bungling the two alleged killers were identified almost immediately but not arrested until 2007. By that time evidence had been lost and witnesses were dead.
The California Court of Appeal ruled in 2012 the alleged killers had been denied a speedy trial and declined to prosecute them.
Galea sold his Yowie Bay mansion Dallas to illegal gambling boss George Freeman for $220,000 in August 1978.
The house at 2a Muneela Place has been extensively renovated
Five decades ago this stairway at 455 New South Head Road in Double Bay took patrons up to an illegal casino called the Double Bay Bridge Club that turned over today's equivalent of almost $1billion a year
When the Double Bay Bridge Club moved to the first floor of 79-85 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction (above) to become the Telford Club in 1976 all its equipment was transported across the eastern suburbs in broad daylight
Unlike his performance at the Wood Royal Commission, Galea did evidence at the Independent Commission Against Corruption's inquiry into the relationship between criminals and police in June 1993. By that time Galea was running what he called a mah-jong and bridge club in Sydney's Chinatown. He refused to admit illegal gambling took place on the third floor of 31 Dixon Street. Counsel assisting the commission, Peter Neil QC, suggested to Galea he was was 'believed to be one of the biggest illegal gaming operators in the state.' 'I take offence at that,' Galea said. Galea explained how he was able to make a weekly profit of $1,400 from the Dixon Street operation after paying $1,600 rent. Instead of earning a cut of illegal gambling, Galea said he did nicely from the sale of $5 coffees, $7 sandwiches and up to $600 a week from a cigarette machine.
When the main roulette had to be replaced at the Forbes Club council workers barricaded the street one Sunday morning so a new one could be hoisted in by crane through the first floor bay windows
Galea also denied ever receiving tip-offs from police of imminent raids on the club, despite a former member of the Gaming Squad admitting he did. Buckets of water kept at the Dixon Street club were not for dissolving mats used for playing the illegal dice game hazard but to take the overflow from a dodgy air-conditioning unit. The Gaming Tribunal of NSW declared the Dixon Street club an illegal gaming house on September 21, 1993 after police spent two years gathering evidence. Gaming Squad officers had disguised themselves with make-up as Asian punters to establish it was being used to play Chinese dominoes (pai kau), hazard and Russian poker. Gambling charges against Galea were nonetheless dismissed a month later by a magistrate who found there was a lack of evidence. More ominously, Galea was granted legal representation at the coronial inquiry into the May 1985 disappearance of hitman Chris Flannery in 1993.
David Waterhouse (above) of the Sydney gambling family remembered Galea running the Palace at 22 Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point for his bookmaker father Bill.
'I always found Bruce a nice guy,' Waterhouse said. 'He wasn't like a heavy gangster or anything like that'
'Such a roll-over would create turmoil all over the eastern suburbs because of the vast number of legal eagles, media types, business execs and politicians who enjoyed Galea's hospitality over the years.' Galea's silence no doubt saved some reputations but caused damage to others who praised his stance. Radio broadcaster Jon Harker's tilt at running as a Liberal candidate for the state seat of Pittwater in 1996 was ended by comments he made over Galea's imprisonment. Harker had told his 2GB listeners in July 1995 'crooked cop after crooked cop' had been rolling over at the royal commission, 'giving up everybody possible in a bid to save their own skins.' 'But as for Bruce Galea, he's showing the sort of honour which doesn't exist elsewhere.' Galea was put to work as a clerk in Long Bay's remand centre and steadfastly refused to speak. 'I've got nothing to say to anyone,' he told a journalist when approached for an interview in December 1996 after 17 months in prison.
[img][/img] Galea, a passionate Sydney Roosters supporter who is survived by children Emily and Jamie, died on the Gold Coast earlier this month.
He is pictured with Jamie at the Sydney Football Stadium in 2015
Galea, who was never given a determinate sentence for refusing to purge his contempt, was only released when the royal commission finished. Justice Wood delivered his final report on August 26, 1997 and Galea was let out of jail on October 13. He returned to his family at Coogee and still declined to talk, even about his time in prison. Five days after his release Galea was back at Randwick racecourse. Galea, a passionate Sydney Roosters supporter like his late brother Clive, died on the Gold Coast this month and his funeral was held at Burleigh Heads on January 20.
He is survived by children Emily and Jamie. A wake will be held on February 3 at Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club where Galea's father had swum daily and been handball champion until 1961 when his youngest son took the title from him.
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