In his most blistering public statement in 31 years, Mr Mackay read out the names of six local men suspected of being involved in the 1977 execution, and implored the community and authorities to finally rid the city of organised crime.

“When our father was murdered only 400 metres from where we’re now standing, his wife became a widow at the age of 41 with a young son who’d only just turned three,” he told a crowd of close to 1000.

“He was never given the opportunity to celebrate his 21st wedding anniversary, the chance to see his youngest child start school, the opportunity to see any of his children get married, or the opportunity to meet any of his 10 grandchildren.

“He was not even allowed to rest in peace.

“We do not know where he is buried, although people alive today in this community most certainly do.

“Our family would like you all to remember our father for what he was; a local family man who was actively involved in many aspects of our community life.”

Mr Mackay took aim at locals still suspected of being involved in the drug trade, saying the Black Friday drug arrests “suggested it was business as usual in the Griffith underworld”.

He thanked Griffith Rotary for erecting the statue and members of the community whose donations funded it.

Earlier, Don Mackay’s close friend and mentor Perry Howard unveiled the towering 2.6-metre black and grey granite monument, below a marble bust of a smiling Mr Mackay looking up Banna Avenue.

He described his friend as a staunch community man, with a great empathy for children with disabilities and an unerring moral compass. “Don Mackay was a man with the guts and the moral fibre to stand up and publicly expose evil, even though he was putting his life at grave risk,” Mr Howard said, fighting back tears.

“That evil hasn’t gone away.