St Kilda legend Barry Breen’s fraudster younger brother, who vanished without a trace 14 years ago, may have been the victim of foul play, police now believe.
Brendan Breen was last seen with his girlfriend at the Hilton hotel in South Wharf on April 12, 2012, where the pair had been staying after flying back from a three-week holiday in Thailand and Singapore.
The father of two, who was unemployed at the time and staying at different addresses, was due to catch up for dinner with his ex-partner that night but cancelled at the last minute via text message. Breen was never seen or heard from again.
The convicted fraudster also went by the surnames Green and Lancombe, and the alias Brian Green. His family reported him missing the following month, having grown increasingly concerned about his welfare when he failed to attend his daughter’s wedding.
Breen is a member of a large and supportive extended family which includes brother Barry, who famously kicked the last-gasp behind in the 1966 grand final that led St Kilda to its only ever flag, and several other siblings.
Suspicions among his loved ones that something was badly wrong grew in 2018, when Breen did not attend his daughter’s funeral. His phone and bank accounts have not been accessed since 2012.
“I always thought there was something not right,” Breen’s twin sister, Fiona Dwyer, said. “If anyone is out there that knows what’s happened to Brendan, it would be the kindest of things to do to come forward and share whatever information you have.”
Police issued an appeal on Tuesday for information on what had happened to Breen.
Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan said the missing persons squad had recently re-examined the case and reached the conclusion he was likely to have been the victim of foul play.
Dunstan said police had spoken to friends and associates of Breen’s in an effort to find him but had run out of leads on what might have happened to him.
“We’re hoping someone will do the right thing and let us know what happened to Brendan and come forward now,” Dunstan said.
“There’s plenty of water under the bridge since then, and hopefully now’s the time they can come provide that information and give the family the closure they desperately need”.
In 2007, Breen was sentenced to 5½ years’ jail over his involvement in a fraud ring, the court ordering he spend a minimum of three years behind bars. The sentence was reduced on appeal to a minimum of 18 months after the court considered Breen had a new partner who was supporting him through psychological counselling.
The court heard Breen, who was 50 at the time of his offending, and two co-accusedhad used fake ID papers under false names to commit frauds upon banks and other lenders.
A further co-accused had created the fake IDs and then sold them to Breen and his co-offenders, the court heard.
Breen had tried to convince the court that his offending was due to a dissociative identity disorder – a condition that was formerly known as having a split personality.
Though the Crown had argued there was no proof this had led to his offending, a report by Breen’s psychologist noted: “I am unable to assess at this time the number or discrete nature of his ego fragmentation.”
Breen had an extensive criminal history including several dishonesty offences since moving into a life of crime in his 40s. He was on parole for other offences at the time of his sentencing.
While some of Breen’s frauds were small – in one instance a fake bank card was used to secure $2080 from a bank – others were larger, including using false documentation to finance the purchase of a BMW.
Dwyer, who drifted apart from Breen as an adult, said a breakthrough in the case would bring much needed closure to the family.
“No matter what he has done, if he has done the wrong thing, if he was doing the wrong thing, he’s still my brother,” she said. “Please come forward. Please come forward and help us. Help us find out what’s happened to him.”
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Sarah Danckert is a senior reporter who specialises in investigations and corporate wrongdoing. She is a two-time Walkley Award winner, and has won six Quill Awards and two Kennedy Awards.Connect via X or email.