Court for man hit at footy
A MAN punched in the stands at Suncorp Stadium after he disrupted the minute’s silence at an Anzac Day NRL match has faced court for what he did after the incident.
The court heard the Pittsworth man suffered “extracurial” punishment as a result of his actions, after footage of the incident went viral across Australia.
A MAN who was punched by NRL supporters at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium after yelling out during the minute’s silence at the Anzac Day match has appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court.
Wade Ruben Hornery, who is from the Toowoomba region town of Pittsworth, had suffered “extra-curial” punishment as a result of his disrespectful actions during the Anzac Day ceremony prior to the Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs clash on April 22, when he was repeatedly punched in the head by another supporter, the court heard.
However, the 45-year-old accepted it was his own fault, his solicitor Alyshia Jacobsen told the court.
Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court as a result of the incident Hornery had been evicted from the ground but once outside he became abusive toward police and was issued a ticket for public nuisance.
At the nearby watch house, Hornery was found with small amounts of “green leafy material” suspected of being cannabis in the coin pocket of his pants and in a Berocca tube, he said.
Hornery pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and property as having been used for a drug offence.
Mr Brewster-Webb said Hornery had a five-page criminal history that included previous drug offences.
Ms Jacobsen said her client had been handed $1150 in infringement notices arising from his behaviour at the stadium that night.
He was not charged with public nuisance or any offence relating to his conduct towards police.
Hornery had suffered head trauma after a horse fall in February 2000 after which he was in a coma for four days, she said.
He had a scooter fall in January this year and was medicated for his head injuries and shouldn’t have been drinking alcohol at all but was drunk that day at the stadium, she said.
Hornery, who had a script for medical cannabis, was due to undergo an MRI to be checked out, Ms Jacobsen said.
Hornery didn’t recall disrupting the minute’s silence but fully accepted responsibility and he suffered ongoing embarrassment as he had been recognised in the footage of the incident, she said.
Acting Magistrate Kay Ryan accepted Hornery had suffered extra-curial punishment due to his actions, but so he could obtain ongoing counselling she placed him on nine months probation.