BAD MOUNTIE FREE ON BAIL

Ryan's Appeal of Conviction for Dealing Drugs Set for Sept. 27

Four days after a judge described Danny Ryan as a "dishonest,
criminally active police officer" and sentenced him to four years in
prison for drug trafficking, another judge has freed him on bail
pending his appeal.

Mr. Ryan, a former RCMP drug officer, was convicted in June of
trafficking marijuana and breach of trust for stealing and selling
drugs that police had seized. He is now free until the Nova Scotia
Court of Appeal hears his appeal of his conviction on Sept. 27.

Mr. Ryan is appealing on the grounds that too much time passed before
his case went to trial.

In a written decision released Friday, Appeal Court Justice Thomas
Cromwell found there was no basis for concern that Mr. Ryan would fail
to abide by the conditions of his release or commit further offences
while waiting for his appeal to be heard. He does not pose a danger to
himself or others, the judge said.

"Should this appeal succeed, and release pending bail be denied, he
will have unjustly served time in custody with loss of employment and
hardship on his young and growing family," Justice Cromwell wrote.

Mr. Ryan and his wife Shannon have a six-year-old son and a second
child due in December. The former constable had no prior criminal record.

"Should he be granted bail and his appeal fail, the result will simply
be that he commences his sentence a few weeks after it was actually
imposed," the judge said.

"In all of the circumstances here, I see no public interest that would
be served by refusing bail or that a reasonable and well-informed
person could think less of the justice system if bail were granted."

As a member of the Tantallon RCMP street team, Mr. Ryan was largely
responsible for co-ordinating investigations into drug trafficking.
Through his job, he cultivated many sources on the street to get
information to help with his investigations.

But Mr. Ryan more than once stole marijuana and hashish seized in
busts, got one of his informants to sell it and demanded some of the
proceeds.

After he was charged and granted bail in January 2002, Mr. Ryan abided
by all of his release conditions.

At a bail hearing on Thursday, the Crown opposed Mr. Ryan's release,
arguing that it would undermine public confidence in the justice system.

For his bail, Mr. Ryan and his wife both posted sureties of $5,000.

Mr. Ryan, who lives in Quebec, must report to Ottawa RCMP each Friday
and not communicate with anyone working for Tantallon RCMP without
written permission from Supt. Vern Fraser, the officer in charge of
the RCMP's Halifax-area detachments.

Mr. Ryan is also barred from having any contact with any current or
former police sources, informants or agents. As well, he must remain
in Canada and surrender his passport.

On the eve of his appeal later this month, Mr. Ryan must turn himself
in to the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.