Desiree’s Angels prepped for annual motorcycle ride event

Susan Gerth doesn’t bother thinking about the dangerous offender who beat her daughter.

Despite attending the parole hearing for Justin Primmer last week, Gerth is focusing her energy on preparing for the annual Desiree’s Ride – a motorcycle fundraiser that supports victims of crime.

“I just keep on fighting for Des because she’s not here to do it herself,” says Gerth.

In May 2013, Desiree Gallagher, a pretty 22-year-old from Brantford, was in London when she met Primmer and went to her apartment.

He beat her – a fact determined by the courts after photos of her damaged face were found on his cellphone – and then she fell seven floors from his balcony.

Primmer was never charged in connection with the devastating fall which left Desiree brain-injured, in a wheelchair and partially blind. She lived to see and love the first Desiree’s Rides but died in 2015 at 23.

Her brother, Dwayne Gallagher, never seemed to recover from what happened to his sister and, five years after her death, he took his own life.

Desiree’s fall is still considered an open investigation by London police.

Primmer was labeled a dangerous offender in 2017 in consideration of his record of manslaughter in 2004, assaulting another woman in 2014, and beating a fellow inmate at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre.

Once associated with the Hells Angels motorcycle club, Primmer also had a short-lived career as a mixed martial arts fighter.

The courts declared he had shown a pattern of “persistent aggressive behavior and substantial indifference” when it came to the consequences to others.

Gerth said her trip on Aug. 2 to the Bath federal penitentiary near Kingston was “a bit eerie” as she and the wife of the man slain by Primmer walked through the gates together.

Both women read their victim impact statements before the parole board.

“It doesn’t bother me one bit to see him. I get the feeling he doesn’t want me there because I’m fighting for my daughter’s justice. It’s exhausting, but I’m fighting for my daughter.”

Primmer, who was given an “indeterminate” sentence in 2017, was denied parole but comes up again every two years.

“It’s not the parole board or Corrections Canada that decides that,” says Gerth. “It’s government legislated. Within the first few years he was reduced from high security to medium security and it was the warden who made that decision.”

Gerth added that Primmer has applied for escorted leaves and the warden will also make that decision.

“Victims get re-victimized all the time,” she said.

“It gave me a bit of faith when the parole board denied him. (Primmer) lied about what happened with Desiree and the other girl but they could see right through him. They were very caring.”

Now Gerth is turning her attention to a “fun-filled day” of raising funds for other victims.

The Desiree’s Ride event on Aug. 19 will be the eighth annual event, after missing two years due to COVID-19.

Motorcycle riders will tour down to Hoover’s Marina in Nanticoke and then back to the Knights of Columbus hall where, around 3 pm, riders and non-riders are invited to a barbecue with a live band and prizes.

Last year the event raised about $5,200.

Desiree’s Angels have also run a golf tournament this year and are planning a breakfast event in March.

“The justice system can take a toll on you if you let it, but there’s something inside me that wants to continue to fight.”

NEWS

What: The annual Desiree’s Ride, hosted by Desiree’s Angels, a motorcycle ride-out to Hoover’s Marina in Nanticoke and back

When: Aug. 19, registration at 9 am, kickstands up at 11 am, barbecue starts at 3 pm

Where: Knights of Columbus hall, 12 Catharine Ave.

Why: Raising funds for Victims Services of Brant, which supports victims of crime

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