Richmond champion Dustin Martin suffers another family blow with uncle arrested
Richmond’s veteran champion Dustin Martin has been dealt another bitter family blow.
Sunrise is reporting Martin’s uncle, Dean Martin, has been arrested and is set to be deported from Australia to New Zealand. It’s believed his visa has been cancelled on character grounds.
Scroll below to see senator Lidia Thorpe’s comments on Dean Martin.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It is a similar situation to what Dustin Martin’s father, Shane Martin, went through.
Shane Martin died in New Zealand in 2021 after Australian authorities deported him in 2018.
Shane and Dean were brothers.
Both men have links to the Rebels motorbike gang
Shane Martin was deported after he was placed in custody by Australian Border Force in 2016.
Back then it was reported he failed a minimum character requirements test.
The arrest followed a federal government crackdown on bikies and organised crime figures.
Shane Martin was a senior member of the Rebels motorcycle club. Dean Martin is a past Rebels national president and a former Victorian president.
He has been reportedly linked to the gang for 25 years, although reports also suggest he has no criminal record.
However, like Shane Martin, authorities are using a ‘character’ test as a way to cancel his passport and have him deported to New Zealand.
And like Shane, Dean is currently in custody with the Australian Border Force.
Dean Martin made headlines in 2022 when it was revealed he had been romantically linked to controversial Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe.
She has since spoken about Dean’s pending deportation, telling News Corp it is a “mistake”.
“How can an Aboriginal man be deported from his own country?” she asked.
“Government has made a mistake ... He has proof and support and connection to elders and community in Tasmania.”
Back in 2016, Dean Martin also spoke about the pending deportation of Shane.
He said it was tearing his family apart and he feared a similar fate awaited him.
Dustin Martin has only just returned from a trip to New Zealand.
He only returned to Melbourne late last Tuesday night.
Doubts still remain when — or if — he will return to the field for Richmond.
Rumours have been swirling that Dustin may join his former coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast next year.
