Statement Regarding Suspected Financial Misconduct and Neglect
To: The Public Trustee of Queensland
Subject: Financial management and care concerns relating to Barry Peter Ryan (DOB: 24 March 1947)
Submitted by: Petrina (Tina) Kleid, daughter and co-Enduring Power of Attorney
1. Background
My father, Barry Peter Ryan, possessed significant personal assets prior to 2016, including ownership of a home in Benowa, Queensland, and over $400,000 in bank savings. He was consistently frugal throughout his life and maintained a strong preference for financial independence, simplicity, and personal savings rather than insurance or debt.
In 2016, following a period of illness, my aunt Barb Meynell, and my sister Michelle Sprecher (Who was estranged from our father for most of her adult life), became involved in assisting my father with the sale of his Benowa property and the management of his affairs. At that time, my father’s total assets exceeded $900,000.
2. Barb Meynell/Timeline of Material Events and Financial Changes
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2012–2015:
Barb began working as a psychic, offering paid fortune readings. She and Bernie sold small spiritual items at fairs, operating on a very small scale, typically a single table of low-cost items. They lived modestly in a home in Nerang, which they renovated themselves using basic materials and minimal outside labour. -
2016:
After becoming involved in my father’s affairs, Barb assisted with the sale of his Benowa home, and from this point forward, a noticeable and unexplained improvement in her and Bernie’s financial circumstances occurred. -
2016–2025:
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Purchase of a new Mitsubishi 4WD vehicle.
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Sale of their Nerang home and purchase of a new property.
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Major renovations undertaken, including a new swimming pool, a lower-level extension with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, and use of heavy equipment and professional contractors.
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Commencement of a large-scale retail operation, including clothing and fashion items.
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Purchase of a caravan and small truck to transport increased stock for market sales.
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Frequent domestic and international travel, reflecting a significant rise in disposable income.
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During this same period, Barb was reportedly managing my father’s finances. She periodically sent me brief messages claiming to have purchased new clothes and personal items for him “each month.”
3. Enduring Power of Attorney and Withholding of Information
In 2019, my father signed an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) naming both myself and Barb as attorneys. Barb did not inform me of this document’s existence for several years.
This concealment effectively prevented me from performing my legal responsibilities as co-attorney and allowed Barb to act unilaterally, without consultation or accountability. Her lack of transparency suggests deliberate misrepresentation and obstruction.
4. Evidence of Neglect and Misuse of Funds
When I visited my father in 2025, I observed that he was living with severe deprivation of basic necessities, inconsistent with his asset position and the monthly “purchases” allegedly made for him.
Specifically, he possessed:
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Old threadbare, secondhand T-shirts
30 year old old hiking shorts
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Old sandals,
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No socks, pyjamas, warm trousers, long sleeved shirts, jumpers, or enclosed shoes,
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Old jackets with sharp metal zippers, dating back 20 years,
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A wheelchair and walker.
One old pair of glasses
One old backpack
Despite his considerable assets and the funds under Barb’s control, my father had no evidence of adequate clothing, comfort, or personal care. This suggests his funds were not used for his benefit, in breach of her fiduciary duty under the Powers of Attorney Act 1998 (Qld).
In 2025 I personally purchased and paid for my father’s winter clothing after I arrived to see him from the USA, I purchased these and other essential items out of my own funds because Barb Meynell had contacted his bank and falsely claimed that my Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) was fraudulent. As a result of her actions, the bank restricted my access to my father’s accounts, preventing me from using his own funds to provide for his basic needs or to check on his bank records. Barb would not provide all of his bank records.
Despite being fully aware that my father lacked adequate clothing, Barb Meynell demonstrated no concern for his wellbeing. When questioned about why he did not have the items she had repeatedly claimed to have purchased, she attributed their absence to the nursing home or to my father himself, alleging that he had “lost them.” This explanation is not credible.
In reality, my father was left with only a small number of visibly secondhand, worn-out garments, and he often complained about being forced to wear other people’s old clothes. In my view, this constitutes both neglect and misrepresentation, as Ms. Meynell failed to ensure his comfort and dignity while simultaneously claiming to have spent his money on his personal needs.
5. Misrepresentation of Cognitive Health
Barb repeatedly described my father as “dementing” and used this to justify increased control over his affairs. However, there is no evidence that he was formally diagnosed with dementia at that stage, and I believe this narrative was used strategically to justify her control and minimize scrutiny.
Such conduct is consistent with coercive control and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult under the guise of caregiving.
6. Summary of Concerns
The following points summarize my concerns:
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Unexplained enrichment: Barb and her husband experienced a dramatic and sustained rise in wealth immediately after gaining influence over my father’s finances.
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Concealment of EPOA paperwork: Barb failed to inform me, as co-attorney, of the existence of the 2019 EPOA paperwork for six years, obstructing oversight.
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Possible misappropriation: My father’s funds appear to have been diverted for personal use, including property upgrades, vehicles, and business expansion.
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Neglect: Despite significant assets, my father was found in 2025 with inadequate clothing and personal care, suggesting neglect and mismanagement.
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Misrepresentation: Claims of my father’s cognitive decline may have been exaggerated or fabricated to maintain control and deflect inquiry.
7. Request for Investigation
I respectfully request that the Public Trustee of Queensland:
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Conduct a forensic financial review of all transactions and withdrawals made from Barry Peter Ryan’s accounts from the sale of dad's Benowa home in 2016, the sale of his retirement Villa in 2019 and up until to 2025, including any associated with property sales or transfers of funds.
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Examine whether funds were used for the personal benefit of Barb Meynell, by assessing Barb's Tax returns for stock purchased.
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Review all EPOA-related actions taken by Barb, including expenditure records, receipts, and asset management decisions.
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Assess whether there was breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation, or elder financial abuse, and if necessary, refer the matter to law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
8. Supporting Evidence
I am prepared to provide:
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Copies of correspondence between myself and Barb,
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Photographs documenting my father’s lack of proper clothing and care,
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Records of his banking balances and property sales,
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Documentation showing Barb’s lifestyle changes during the same period, and
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Evidence of the delayed disclosure of the EPOA and her unilateral decision-making.
Signed:
Petrina Kleid
Daughter and Co-Enduring Power of Attorney
