Review

class SystemUtils {
    /**
     * <p>Gets a System property, defaulting to <code>null</code> if the property
     * cannot be read.</p>
     *
     * <p>If a <code>SecurityException</code> is caught, the return
     * value is <code>null</code> and a message is written to <code>System.err</code>.</p>
     * 
     * @param property the system property name
     * @return the system property value or <code>null</code> if a security problem occurs
     */
    private static String getSystemProperty(String property) {
        try {
            return System.getProperty(property);
        } catch (SecurityException ex) {
            // we are not allowed to look at this property
            System.err.println(
                "Caught a SecurityException reading the system property '" + property 
                + "'; the SystemUtils property value will default to null."
            );
            return null;
        }
    }

}