{
  "id": 1878181,
  "title": "'Factory reset is a factory reset': ICAC told phone and iPad wiped",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/factory-reset-is-a-factory-reset-icac-told-phone-and-ipad-wiped",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T06:17:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-19/icac-rosny-hearings-dallas-mcinerney-wipes-phone/107054290"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney has admitted to performing a factory reset on his work phone and iPad during questioning by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The move came after McInerney was asked to provide messages between him and Liberal Party operatives related to the ongoing corruption inquiry. Despite his bank account being compromised through his Apple ID and Apple Pay, McInerney stated that he performed the factory reset believing his devices contained critical messages for the investigation. ICAC prosecutor Peggy Dwyer SC questioned whether the factory reset was an attempt to erase potentially incriminating evidence. McInerney insisted that he was being fully cooperative with the commission and had not been misled. He also revealed that he had returned the devices to CSNSW after the reset, even though the organization had not requested them. The ICAC is currently investigating allegations of illegal political donations, branch-stacking, and disguised payments within the NSW Liberal Party, Catholic Schools NSW, and property developer Jean Nassif.",
  "summary": "It comes as Dallas McInerney was asked to produce text messages between him and NSW Liberal Party figures central to the corruption probe.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}