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Dejected ex-convict Martin Ferrier gives up on Ontario visit; heads home to Quebec |
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Written by Colin Perkel, THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008 |
Former convict Martin Ferrier, in Toronto on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel
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TORONTO - Intense publicity proved to be too much for dejected ex-convict Martin Ferrier, who called off a planned visit to a relative in the Toronto area on Tuesday and instead headed home to Montreal.
Ferrier said he was "disappointed" that what was supposed to have been a good news story, in light of those who had wrongly branded him a violent psychopath, instead yielded more lurid headlines and misinformation about him.
"Everything is so hot right now," Ferrier told The Canadian Press as he drove toward the provincial border.
"I don't want to stir the pot any more. I'm leaving (Ontario)."
When he last visited Brampton, Ont., four years ago following a brief release from prison, the ensuing media frenzy drove him back to the refuge of Warkworth Institution for two more years.
Headlines, politicians, his own mother and members of the public denounced him at the time as a menace and serial rapist, even though his record clearly showed that was not the case.
For the past two years, Ferrier, 35, has been living happily and trouble free in Montreal, where he works in security.
"What a difference between here and Quebec," Ferrier said as he prepared to leave Ontario.
He had wanted to take some vacation time to visit a long lost aunt in the Brampton area, but a news article about his first visit back since his ill-fated attempt in July 2004 sparked media coverage and public angst this week reminiscent of four years ago.
One politician and some members of the public demanded police keep tabs on him.
In the end, his aunt decided against seeing him because of the intense scrutiny, he said, and Ferrier threw in the towel.
"There's so much attention," he said ruefully.
While Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as opposition leader a few years ago, referred to him as a "notorious rapist," Ferrier has never been convicted of raping anyone and has no history of random violence.
He does have more than 60 convictions, but almost all were for petty fraud committed as a teenager.
His most serious convictions stem from a messy break-up with a girlfriend when he was 20. He was convicted of arson endangering life for setting the door of her empty apartment on fire - an act he freely admits was dumb, immature and dangerous - and for forcing her to commit a sex act on him, something he strenuously denies.
Ferrier said he felt as if he was on the end of a losing battle to get people to understand he poses no risk to public safety.
"It's people talking without knowing the facts," he said.
John Kastner, whose docudrama on Ferrier "Monster in the Family" was widely acclaimed, spent much of the past few days trying to defend the former convict in light of the new backlash.
"I didn't have an inkling of a glimmering this would happen," Kastner said.
"It was supposed to be a vacation for him. He's a hard-working guy and he wants a little bit of fun. That was the idea and the whole thing has kind of blown up in his face. Very unfortunate."
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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