She’s the outspoken senior prosecutor best known for putting notorious criminals like gang rapist Bilal Skaf, paedophile Robert “Dolly” Dunn and disgraced gynaecologist Graeme Reeves aka the “Butcher of Bega” behind bars.
But in the past six months, Margaret Cunneen SC has spent more time in court with her own lawyers, challenging an attempt by the Independent Commission Against Corruption [ICAC] to launch an investigation into allegations she advised her son Stephen’s girlfriend, Sophie Tilley, to stage chest pains after a car accident to avoid a police breath test.
Margaret denied the claim and, in any case, Sophie recorded a zero alcohol reading after being breathalyzed. The accident was understood not to be her fault.
ICAC initially won the case in Supreme Court but Margaret won on appeal and again at the High Court last week. She’s likened the experience, including criticism of her family, to the treatment of “murderers and terrorists.”
On the back of ICAC’s protestations over the High Court’s ruling, The Weekly shares the lessons Margaret wrote to her younger self.
Image via The Guardian on Twitter.
Dear Me,
Do you realise, my dear Margaret, that the songs you love now will always be your favourite songs? So I would suggest that you go to that Pink Floyd concert you won tickets to on 2SM even though it means toughening up and defying a parental edict. “No one will even remember Pink Floyd in 6 months’ time” will rankle forever if you don’t.
If people close to you are not beginning to treat you as an adult, don’t passively accept it or you’ll always expect to be “in trouble” and always be apologising for doing things your way, which is probably the right way anyway. Stand up to the bullies in your life, or they will persist for decades.
When you’re rejected by someone you love, let it go. Don’t go chasing his or her approval for the rest of your life. You’ll never get it.
As things will turn out, you’ll have to study for your degrees at night while you work full-time. It will be difficult, but it will provide you with a solid base of achievement at an early age and the habit of making every minute count will be with you all your life.
Take every single professional opportunity that comes your way. Because it’s hard is not a reason not to do it – it’s a reason to do it.
Real friends make you feel good about yourself. If people make you feel as though you’ve done, said or worn something wrong every time you speak to them, they are not your friends.
Always tell people the positive things others say about them, never the negative.
Don’t agonize over people who go out of their way to try to harm you or your loved ones. Rise above it and keep smiling. You will live to see the world deal with them in a way their own malice attracts.
Don’t let setbacks get you down. Everything that disappoints or saddens you feels better in a week – or even a day. If you feel down, do something for someone else and it will be sure to lift your mood.
When you have children, and they will be the greatest achievement of your life, don’t worry about the advice of the rigid and cold-hearted. Just love them like there’s no tomorrow.
Life does not end, or become boring, after you turn 30 or 40 or 50. In fact it will be increasingly joyous and fulfilling and hugely exciting in ways you cannot possibly foresee.
So stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and have confidence in being unique.
Love,
Margaret.
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