Presumption of Evil, acclaimed author and investigative journalist Andrew L. Urban exposes the devastating journey of the Greenaway family—beginning with a fateful phone call that informed Noel Greenaway he would be named the following day in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse. What followed was a harrowing legal ordeal: a 2019 trial, an appeal, and ultimately, a meeting between Urban and the now-incarcerated Greenaway in a supermax prison.
Presumption of Evil explores the deeply troubling case of a man whose life was shattered by uncorroborated allegations dating back over 50 years. Noel Greenaway, now 86 and confined to a maximum-security prison, was convicted of assault based solely on testimony from five women—alleged victims from his time as a staff member at the Parramatta Training School for Girls. At the time of the alleged offences, he was in his 30s; his accusers are now middle-aged.
In stark contrast to the accusations were the many glowing character references presented to the court—testimonies from colleagues, friends, and family describing a man of unwavering moral integrity, known for his kindness and calm demeanor.
When asked about his motivation for writing the book, Urban explained, “This book chronicles not just Noel’s many personal and professional achievements, but also the unwavering support of his family and the steadfast loyalty of his friends. I hope this book provokes outrage because justice is only possible when those not directly affected by a case feel the same outrage as those who are.”
Urban argues that the presumption of innocence was effectively discarded once Greenaway was named in the Royal Commission. The result, he contends, was a process of “guilt by accusation”—a modern crimen exceptum, where the mere nature of the allegation overrides the burden of proof and the safeguards of due process.
Presumption of Evil is now available on Amazon Kindle.
About the Author
ANDREW L. URBAN, an award-winning author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker, fled Hungary as a child during the 1956 revolution, eventually settling in Australia. He has written and edited for the national daily newspaper The Australian and has authored investigative books on victims of crime.
For more details, please visit: https://wrongfulconvictionsreport.org/andrew-l-urban/
Media Contact
Company Name: Pursue Democracy
Contact Person: Andrew L. Urban
Email: Send Email
Address:PO Box 173
City: Seaforth
State: NSW
Country: Australia
Website: https://pursuedemocracy.com/
