State Coroner suppresses NSW Police's latest review of 1979 Luna Park Ghost Train fire

In the latest development relating to the deadly fire on the ghost train ride at Luna Park Sydney in 1979, NSW State Coroner, Teresa O'Sullivan, has made suppression orders over a NSW Police report by Strike Force Sedgeman on the incident.

As a result, only a select few individuals will have access to the NSW Police report into the fatal fire more than four decades ago as the Coroner mulls whether to launch a fresh inquest into the tragedy.

Some families of those killed in the 1979 Luna Park Ghost Train fire have been handed a redacted copy of the NSW Police review of the incident, as they continue their push for a fresh Coronial inquest.

Police launched Strike Force Sedgeman in April 2021 following new evidence on the circumstances surrounding the fire having been presented in an ABC documentary.

On the evening of 9th June 1979, John Godson and sons Damien, six, and Craig, four, and friends Jonathan Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson and Seamus Rahilly, aged 12 to 13, were killed in the fire while riding the theme park's ghost train.

Initial investigations pointed to an electrical fault and some subsequent inquiries proved non-conclusive.

But the ABC alleged there were links between the fire and Sydney underworld figure Abe Saffron's bid to secure prime waterfront property.

Following these allegations, an application for a new coronial inquest was made to the State Coroner in 2021.

In response to a request from State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan, NSW police's Unsolved Homicide Team established Strike Force Sedgeman to review all evidence concerning the cause and origin of the fire and the circumstances of the seven deaths.

Counsel assisting the coroner Rob Ranken told ABC, "at the moment, the ACIC (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) has begun the process of possible amendments to the non-publication directions.

"These processes have been taking some time, [but] we have reached a point where there is a form of the report that can be disclosed without breaching the non-publication directions."

A redacted version of the report was tendered to the coroner and released to the family members behind the application, as well as the legal representatives of other interested parties – such as the NSW Police Force, ACIC and counsel assisting the coroner.

Magistrate O'Sullivan ordered the report could not be released to the public or media.

Ranken advised "Your Honour is yet to determine the application and it may be subject to change or refinement by the applicant, on review of this material.’

The case will return to court on 28th October.

Image: The aftermath of the 1979  Ghost Train fire at Luna Park Sydney.