Controversial crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC has blamed her "malevent (sic)…long-estranged [family member]" for a corruption investigation and suggested that "all the independent bystanders said I did absolutely nothing wrong".
The extraordinary claims were made by Ms Cunneen in an email sent to a member of the public at 6.48pm on December 5.
Earlier that day the NSW Court of Appeal effectively derailed an investigation into Ms Cunneen by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
In a 2-1 decision, the appeal court ruled ICAC was acting outside its powers by investigating Ms Cunneen, 55, over allegations she attempted to pervert the course of justice by advising her son's girlfriend, Sophie Tilley, 25, to pretend to have chest pains to divert police from conducting a breath test at the scene of a car accident in May.
"I refer to the above [case details] and to your success today in the Court of Appeal," wrote a member of the public in an email to Ms Cunneen on hearing the result of her appeal.
But it appears that the prominent barrister only read the opening line because the writer went on to describe Ms Cunneen's actions as "deplorable".
"You may have won in that Honourable Court, but you have lost most heavily in the court of public opinion," he said.
Ms Cunneen replied: "Thanks so much for your love and support which I appreciate so much."
"It is indeed amazing that these people don't realise that my dear Sophia doesn't drink (her blood test was 0.00) and the crash was so bad that the car was written off. Isn't it good that all the independent bystanders said I did absolutely nothing wrong?
"What a malevent (sic) person my long-estranged [family member] is to take the bare bones of the terrible crash that my father told her about and do this to me.
"Dear [writer's name], I know you wish for justice and I thank you for that.
I would've so glad (sic) to do all I can to advance your professional interests and I do thank you so much for your unexpected love and support
Sincere thanks,
Margaret"
Such was Ms Cunneen's perplexing response, the writer copied it, along with his reply, to Jane Needham, the president of the NSW Bar Association and to Ms Cunneen's clerk Deborah Carney, from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
"Perhaps if you had simply provided the information below to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, as requested, rather than to me, you could have avoided costly and career damaging Court proceedings," wrote the member of the public.
"As for advancing my professional interests, I am a semi-retired … consultant, so I am unsure how you can help in that respect."
Fairfax Media is not suggesting any wrongdoing on behalf of any members of Ms Cunneen's family.
Ms Cunneen did not reply to Fairfax Media's call or email.
The ICAC has lodged an appeal with the High Court, which is due to be heard in early March, 2015.
