Justin Darney: Officer’s wife claims ‘toxic mould’ at police station where he worked in Logan, Brisbane claimed his life
A heartbroken woman has claimed that her police officer husband died due to exposure to toxic mold at the station where he worked.
Senior Constable Justin Darney, a hard-working officer for 20 years in Logan, south of Brisbane, died in January in his early 40s after developing a rare and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
Now his wife, Shari Freer-Darney, is campaigning for an inquest into his death, as she believes his condition was caused by the mold he was exposed to at work.
“I remember him finally saying to me, ‘This really sucks,’” Ms Freer-Darney said A current issue.
Senior Constable Justin Darney (pictured with his wife and children), a hard-working officer for 20 years in Logan, south of Brisbane, died in January in his early 40s after developing a rare and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. His wife believes it was caused by toxic mold at a police station where he worked
‘He said, ‘I could understand being shot or something happening to me at work, but… mold? Why?’
Photos taken when Mr Darney worked at the station show mold on the ceiling and furniture, while his wife claims it even covered his gun when he left it in his drawer.
Mrs Freer-Darney said her husband complained about the problem a decade before he became ill, but was told to paint over it.
Her husband became ill three years ago at the age of 38.
‘We ran into a GP and he said, ‘I’m so sorry.’ He said, ‘You have pancreatic cancer and the disease has spread to your liver,'” Mrs Freer-Darney sad.
‘I still remember the shock on his face and him saying, ‘Oh my God, am I going to die?’
Mr Darney was initially given seven days to live but survived for three years.
Senior Constable Darney is pictured on the right
‘I still remember that at the end he was at home screaming in pain for months. He would take a shower and scream in pain. The kids would be in the other room,” Ms Freer-Darney said.
Asbestos and dust diseases lawyer Sean Sweeney, of Slater and Gordon, is representing Ms Freer-Darney in her quest for justice.
He said antibody tests carried out by doctors showed Mr Darney had high levels of microtoxins, which are produced by certain types of mold.
“It’s terrible what happened to Justin and it’s sad that in reality it could have been prevented if more had been done,” Sweeney said.
A Queensland Police spokesperson said: “Testing throughout Logan Central Station has shown it to be a safe working environment and suitable for its intended use.”
The coroner has six months to respond to Freer-Darney’s request for an inquest.