Lyons cops a spray for Pulse radio spat
FORMER Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons has copped a spray from a local community radio presenter after an incident at The Pulse radio station.
A presenter described onair an altercation between Mr Lyons and Committee for Geelong chief executive Rebecca Casson that occurred at the radio station moments earlier.
Pulse presenter Greg McHenry last week condemned Mr Lyons for his “gruff, gross, bullying” and “bumptious attitude” towards Ms Casson — which McHenry said left her in tears. On air, Mr McHenry said he and several others saw the former mayor snub an attempted handshake and `G’day’ from Ms Casson.
The Roads to Recovery presenter accused Mr Lyons of saying “they let anyone in here” and “you’re a disgrace” to Ms Casson.
“I’ve never seen the rudeness and the bullying go on in a person than from Darryn Lyons and he did that as he was walking out of the studio,” Mr McHenry said.
“Now Rebecca went out of here in tears and I can understand now why people feel intimidated because of his gruff, gross, bullying, right in your face, pig-headed, bumptious attitude, and then he goes on to talk about bullying on the radio program.
“I think if he’s to go back into politics and people vote for him they need their heads read.”
Ms Casson said she had moved on from the altercation while Mr Lyons defended his stance.
“It was clear to me that Darryn was having a bad day and I’ve moved on from the incident,” Ms Casson said.
Mr Lyons, who was mayor of the council sacked in April year amid bullying allegations said he remembered not shaking Ms Casson’s hand but “didn’t witness her crying”.
“I just don’t have a lot of time for Rebecca Casson,” Mr Lyons said, claiming his attitude towards Ms Casson stemmed from his experience working with her while on the council.
“I’m certainly upfront about my opinions.
“At the end of day I call it how it is. I don’t suffer any fools.”