Ray Hadley has addressed the arrest of his long-time colleague Alan Jones and given a mysterious hint about why he can’t talk about the case.
Jones, 83, was arrested at his luxurious Circular Quay apartment in central Sydney on Monday morning in connection with allegations he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched young men.
Hadley, who for many years worked with Jones at Sydney’s top-rating radio station 2GB, made the shock announcement earlier this month that he was retiring after 43 years behind the microphone but denied it had anything to do with Jones’ arrest.
‘To the narks who are contacting me about me leaving because of this and all the rest of it … this had nothing whatsoever to do with my decision,’ Hadley, 70, said on Monday.
‘It is completely devoid of the decision I’ve taken.’
After telling listeners he intended to ring Nine newspaper journalist Kate McClymont, who broke the news of Jones’ arrest on Monday, Hadley said he could not comment further on the matter ‘because it will now be before the court’.
However, he also gave a cryptic explanation of why he could not talk about it any further.
‘And at some time in the future, those reasons why I’m not commenting on today will become patently obvious to everyone, patently obvious,’ Hadley said.
Last December Hadley revealed his 30-year relationship with Jones had been ‘severed’ after the accusations were made against the 83-year-old.
Ray Hadley has addressed the arrest of his long-time colleague Alan Jones and given a mysterious hint about why he can’t talk about the case
Hadley said a former 2GB employee, who was given the pseudonym of Brad Webster, confided in him during a private meeting that he was one of four men alleging Jones had groped him and performed other inappropriate acts.
‘I regard this man not as an attention-seeker or someone who seeks notoriety – but rather directly the opposite,’ he said.
‘The behaviour he was alleging was unwanted sexual advances from a person in power, that person being his boss Alan Jones.’
Hadley said he had offered to be Webster’s ‘support person’ at 2GB and speak to the then-station owner and chairman about his allegations.
‘He told me at the start of our conversation that what he was alleging had never been shared with anyone except for me that day,’ he said.
‘He asked for my complete assurance that I would not share the story with anyone unless he expressly gave me permission.
‘In the next 40 minutes I sat silently as he went through the allegations documented in today’s (Sydney Morning Herald) story, interrupted only by his tears as he tried to compose himself.
‘As a fierce supporter for anyone who finds themselves in this type of situation, my support and actions are always guided by the alleged victims.
‘If they ask me not to pursue the matter I respect their wishes.’
Jones has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have described the allegations against him as demonstrably false and defamatory.
Jones, 83, was arrested at his luxurious Circular Quay apartment in central Sydney on Monday morning in connection with allegations he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched young men
Hadley will sign-off from his top-rating morning show for the final time on December 13 despite having about two years left to run on his multimillion-dollar deal at Nine.
After announcing the move last week Hadley said he wanted to spend more time with wife Sophie, his children and grandchildren after decades of 3.30am starts.
‘I achieved far more than I have thought I would,’ Hadley told listeners.
‘My children, Dan, Laura, Emma and Sarah, have made many sacrifices over the years for me to realise my ambitions.
‘Seven years ago I had no grandchildren, now I have seven, and I want to spend more time in the company of Ava, Noah, Ella, Lola, Tommy, Remi and Millar along with their parents.’
Daily Mail Australia revealed last week that Hadley was seen ‘deep in conversation’ with executives at Sky News Australia, with a TV gig possible in the near future.