Keli Lane, 51, has been granted supervised day release from maximum security Silverwater jail to support her long-term partner in an unfair dismissal dispute with his former employer. Patrick Cogan taught at St Pius X College at Chatswood on Sydney's Lower North Shore for decades before being fired in 2025 after allegedly using his work email to engage with the media about Lane's case.
Cogan has lodged a dispute with the Fair Work Commission over his termination. The arrangement marks a significant development in a case that has remained in public consciousness for nearly three decades. Lane was found guilty in 2010 of murdering her newborn daughter Tegan in 1996 and was sentenced to a non-parole period of 13 years and five months.
The decision to grant day release occurs against the backdrop of the parole system's constraints on Lane's case. She was denied parole in 2024 over the state's no body, no parole law. Tegan's remains have never been found. Her prison term is due to finish in December 2028.
Lane has always maintained her innocence, a position she has not wavered from despite her conviction. She was transferred between some of the toughest jails across NSW during her incarceration. The decision to permit day release reflects corrective services practice of facilitating gradual reintegration for prisoners nearing the end of their sentences.
The arrangement enables Lane to attend proceedings and provide support to Cogan during what is likely a protracted employment dispute. Day release conditions typically involve strict supervision requirements and limitations on movement, designed to balance prisoner welfare with public safety considerations.
For Cogan, the case raises questions about the boundaries of workplace communications and employer conduct. The alleged use of his work email to discuss Lane's case became the basis for his termination, creating a complex employment law question for the Fair Work Commission to examine.