‘F***ed up’: Tyrrell’s foster mum’s secret police rant

William Tyrrell’s foster mother was caught on secret police recordings complaining that detectives had “f***ed up” the investigation into the missing toddler and were now trying to trip her up.

In a bugged phone call to an unidentified person, the foster mother is heard saying: “I kicked (the child) this morning, I kicked her hard” and “I’m not coping.”

In that same conversation, she mentions that she was being “investigated” by police over William’s disappearance and commented: “They are trying to trip me up on stuff.”

She further added: “They’re doing it because they f***ed it up … They cleared the guy.”

For three days, Parramatta Local Court has heard covert recordings from inside William’s foster family’s home, including one where the woman can be heard kicking another child - who is not William - and smacking them with a wooden spoon.

Other tapes heard the womanthreatening to “slap” the child in the face and “throw” them around.

The missing boy’s foster mother has pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a child - who cannot be identified - by smacking them with the wooden spoon and kicking them in the thigh.

The foster mother, 58, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of intimidation against the same young child while William’s foster father, 56, has pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault and one count of intimidation.

Police prosecution has played tapes recorded on surveillance devices in their home, car and from telephone intercepts.

The court heard that police began monitoring the foster parents as part of Strike Force Rosann, which was set up to investigate William’s disappearance.

On Wednesday afternoon, the woman’s barrister questioned whether the surveillance devices were installed in an attempt to put pressure on and “ambush” her.

On October 20, 2021, a recording from inside the home captured a loud bang before the child could be heard crying out in pain.

“She kicked me,” the child cries out, before saying that she was going to kick another child who was in the house.

“Now you know how it feels, do you want to make that decision again,” the mother says.

“Now be quiet and sit there.

“It’s okay for you to do it but it’s not okay for someone to do it for you.”

The court heard later that day, the woman told her husband: “I can’t believe I did that” and said she was at “crisis point”.

Later that day, she is heard having a conversation with the child.

“I need to apologise to you, I lost complete control and what I did was out of line … I’m sorry I did that,” the woman says.

“I’m sorry too,” the child says.

The woman adds: “What I’m trying to do is not respond to you poking the bear. And I’m the bear.”

She also says she’s under a “huge amount of pressure” and says she “loves the child”, despite her not being her “flesh and blood”.

In one tape played to the court on Tuesday, the woman warned the child in July 2021 about her attitude.

“I’m going to slap you across the face,” the woman says.

She further adds: “Do you want to do that?”

“No,” the child says.

“You are pushing me big time.” the foster mother says.

He further warned the child that their “filthy little attitude” did not “belong in this house.”

In one recording from May 26, played to the court on Wednesday, the woman warns the young child about “throwing” items around the house.

“That won’t be the only thing that gets thrown around,” she says.

“You only seem to listen when I threaten to get violent.”

William was only three years old when he vanished from his foster grandmother’s house at Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast on September 12, 2014.

The case has become one of the state’s most notable cold cases and after hearings before a coroner and nine years, the mystery remains unsolved.

No one has been charged over William’s disappearance and suspected death, and his foster parents have continued to deny any wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, the woman’s barrister John Stratton SC questioned whether police had intended to use the surveillance devices to “ambush” the foster mother when she gave evidence to the Crime Commission in November 2021.

The court heard that police went to the Department of Communities and Justice in November 2021 and Mr Stratton questioned why they didn’t raise their concerns about the treatment of the children earlier.

“You are well aware that (the foster mother) has continuously said that she has no idea where the body of William Tyrrell is. You know that don’t you?” Mr Stratton asked.

“Yes,” Detective Senior Constable Sean Ogilvy, the officer in charge of the investigation, said.

Mr Stratton further asked whether they were intending to “put pressure” on the woman and “break her”.

“Absolutely not,” Sen Const Ogilvy said.

The hearing before magistrate Susan McIntyre continues.