Former Australian cricketer McGill reveals emotional trauma after kidnapping
Former Australia cricketer Stuart McGill has revealed that his life has been “stopped” by a traumatic abduction by masked bandits in April 2021, in which he was beaten and thrown. The 51-year-old former leg-spinner, who played 44 Tests and took 208 wickets, told sen.com.au on Saturday that the emotional scars after the incident have left painful memories, adding that the start of court proceedings has been delayed . He is the “biggest problem” because he makes reference to the past.
Four people, including the brother of his partner, Maria O’Meagher, were arrested after the incident, but the case will come to court in October 2023, to the detriment of McGill.
“Unfortunately, that (court date) is the biggest problem for me because I feel like it has put everything on hold for me,” McGill told Sen. WA Breakfast.
“It’s an ongoing police investigation… (but) I’ve given a statement to the police and it’s on the record so I can discuss my statement. I never really get along well with my partner’s brother.” I did a (business) introduction (between a friend and Maria’s brother).
“Then they both went and did some business and there was a theft, it was alleged that my friend had killed Maria’s brother, and that caused all kinds of problems for me because they believed I was responsible for it.” It was certainly not so, I was not involved in their business in any way, shape or form and I never will be.
“As a result, Maria’s brother came to my house and told me it was my fault and I was responsible. It wasn’t something you wanted to do even to your worst enemy. Later in the day, it was getting quite dark.” Well, I was bundled up in a car,” McGill said.
Giving details of the kidnapping, which shocked Australia, McGill said he had no choice but to get into the kidnappers’ vehicle as they were armed.
“I didn’t want to get in the car, I told them twice, ‘I’m not going to get in the car,’ but then it became clear that they were armed, and they said, ‘We know you’re not involved,'” We just want to chat, ‘Then they put me in the car and I was in the car for an hour and a half.
McGill said he was so frightened when he was being driven into unfamiliar Sydney streets that it was “the longest hour and a half of my life”.
“I didn’t know where we were, I didn’t know where we were going and I was scared. From that point on, they stripped me naked, beat me, threatened me and then threw me. That’s the course.” Went to a small shed in the middle of maybe three hours. I was scared, I was humiliated and I didn’t really know what was going to happen. Then they got me back in the car and dropped me off at Belmore Gave it, and I didn’t really know where I was, to be honest.”
She revealed that a cab driver dropped her at home but the matter did not end there as she was asked to withdraw the money.
“He told me that I would have to come up with money to ease his burden, despite the fact that he repeatedly told me that I had nothing to do with business transactions. I didn’t even know about it. I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I basically ran after a month. Maria chucked me in the back of her car, I was in the boot, I got out of my unit, then I had some mates Who very generously put me in hotels around Sydney for two or three weeks, and then I went with (a friend).
“We ended up driving off the coast of New South Wales and through Queensland and ended up on Fraser Island, so in total I was away for probably six weeks or more. By the time I got home, Most of the people were arrested, which was good,” he said.