From the SMH:

Few jailed for their roles in the attacks
Geesche Jacobsen and Andrew Clennell
December 9, 2006

ONLY seven people appear to have been jailed in connection with the Cronulla riots and revenge attacks.

Despite statements by the Premier, Morris Iemma, in January that “If you want to riot … we’ve got plenty of cells in our jails to accommodate you”, and a belief that jail terms have been responsible for preventing more riots, it also appears only one offender from the revenge and riot attacks is still in jail.

Overall, more than 100 people were charged in relation to the riots at Cronulla beach on December 11 and the revenge attacks the following day.

Of the 49 alleged offenders regarded as the most serious by government sources, only seven were given full-time prison terms, and only one of them is still in prison on the anniversary of their offences.

Daniel Garry Denzil Stafford was given a 12-month minimum sentence, apparently the longest sentence of any of the 104 alleged offenders. He was found guilty of robbery in company and assault, and is eligible for parole next week.

Other prison terms range from one to nine months non-parole. These include a three-month sentence given to Hadi Khawaja for burning a flag at an RSL Club.

Geoffrey John Atkinson, who was pictured by Herald photographers at the scene of the beating of Safi Merhi, was sentenced to one month in prison for riot and affray. Samuel Murray received a nine-month sentence for his role in the same attack.

Nineteen of the 49 cases are yet to be heard, including many relating to the revenge attacks.

The Opposition Leader, Peter Debnam, said the figures were disappointing.

“If you’re telling me … only one person is in jail for the extraordinary violence we saw over four or five days, then the people of NSW are going to find that statistic unbelievable.”

Mr Iemma said the “relative calm since last December” showed the message had “got through” from some of the penalties meted out.