Two days after he allegedly stole a camera from a photographer killed in the Bondi Beach massacre, Danny Ridley gushed about the victim’s ‘beautiful aura’ on social media. 

Peter Meagher, 61, was one of 15 people who died when Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire at the Chanukah By The Sea event on December 14. 

Police allege Ridley, 35, stole and then pawned Mr Meagher’s Canon camera for $800. He was arrested and charged with a series of offences on Wednesday. 

In his 193-word Instagram tribute to Mr Meagher – which went into gruesome graphic detail of victims’ injuries – Ridley said he would never forget ‘how much joy was in and around’ the photographer. 

‘Peter, we worked beside each other on Sunday. You were taking photos of the event and for a company/service that printed photo magnets,’ Ridley wrote on an Instagram Story seen by the Daily Mail.

‘I introduced myself as the photographer for the Chabad and for the Chanukah event and your face lit up, your eyes were kind as you shook my hand, your aura was just beautiful.

‘When it was all over and I returned to the grass to treat the victims in any way I could, I saw you under a cloth and I froze. That’s when it really sunk in. If I had stayed, and we were still side-by-side, it could have been me – or me too.

‘You didn’t deserve this. No one did. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and may you be in a better place.’

Danny Ridley was charged with alleged stealing offences in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack

Police allege Ridley stole Peter Meagher’s (pictured) camera equipment after he was shot

Two days after allegedly stealing Mr Meagher’s items, Ridley wrote an emotional tribute to him

In other posts seen by the Daily Mail, Ridley claimed he locked eyes with one of the shooters before he ‘pointed his rifle and shot at [him]’. 

‘Luckily it barely grazed my ribs,’ Ridley captioned a photo of a faint red graze on the left side of his torso. 

‘Thanks everyone for all your messages. I can’t reply to everyone and re-live the experience from scratch more than 100 times.

‘It was like a war zone. Bodies everywhere. I saw [GRAPHIC DETAIL DELETED] trying to stop bleeding wounds and doing CPR.’ 

Ridley said he had left Archer Park to get his drone from his car just minutes before bullets started flying. 

He said he was only 20 metres away from the Bondi Beach footbridge when the shooting began, and was forced to duck for cover.

Ridley ended the post by telling his clients there may be a slight delay to edits as his camera and laptop were being held by police as part of the crime scene. 

‘Thoughts and prayers to anyone affected by these monsters and all the people we couldn’t save in the aftermath,’ he said. 

Mr Meagher was on assignment as a freelance photographer at the Chanukah By the Sea event when he was killed (he is pictured holding the Canon camera allegedly stolen by Ridley)

Ridley told his followers about the horrific experience and said he was metres from the gunmen

Mr Meagher’s wife Virginia (left) has publicly begged for his beloved camera to be returned

Ridley’s arrest comes just months after Mr Meagher’s grieving widow begged for the camera to be returned after it vanished from the scene. 

‘As you all know, my husband Peter’s life was tragically taken at Bondi on 14 December,’ Virginia wrote in a Facebook post in March.

‘It is now apparent that someone, other than a known authority, picked up his camera from Archer Park. 

‘I would very much like to have his camera returned… If you know anything about the Canon camera (as shown in these images), I’d love to hear from you. Thank you.’

Australians were quick to share their support. 

‘It’s hard to fathom someone would be that low, Virginia – I’m so sorry. I pray that decency prevails and it finds a way back to you,’ one person wrote.

‘That is appalling – sincerely hope they return Peter’s camera to you!’ another said.

On Wednesday, police raided a home in Marayong, in Sydney’s west, and arrested Ridley, charging him with larceny between $2,000 and $5,000, disposing of stolen property, and furnishing false information to a licensee. 

During a search of a car, police seized a small amount of white crystal powder and electronics

He was also charged with possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, and possessing and supplying drugs. 

‘At the address, police located and seized a camera, handcuffs, and electronic devices,’ NSW Police said in a statement.

‘During a search of a car, police located and seized a small amount of white crystal powder and further electronics.’

Ridley was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Blacktown Local Court on 22 June.

Peter, who was the grandson of Wallabies Hall of Famer Wally Meagher, was a much-loved club figure of the Randwick Rugby Club and former first grade team manager.

The former NSW police officer was named the club’s volunteer of the year in 2020.

The Daily Mail has contacted Ridley for comment.