Covid-19: Ralph MacIntosh pleads guilty to coffee date while he knew he was infectious

Ralph MacIntosh has admitted breaching isolation rules after learning he had Covid – but not at Loverboy nightclub. The club said the whole episode had cost it $60,000.

An Adelaide clubber who partied at a city nightclub while infectious with Covid-19 has escaped a conviction, sparking anger over his failure to read quarantine order messages.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, Ralph James Mackenzie MacIntosh, 20, was fined $600 for flouting directions over a visit to a popular inner city suburban coffee shop knowing he had coronavirus.

Mr MacIntosh, from one of South Australia’s wealthiest families, was charged with visiting Loverboy nightclub after failing to read an SA Health message at 10.18pm on Friday, December 17 last year.

But he admitted a new charge with a 40 per cent discount.

Outside court, witnesses described seeing the clubber, formerly of Kensington Park but now of the Adelaide Hills, socialising at close range with other patrons at the Hindley St club.

Almost two dozen patrons and bar staff were forced to quarantine for Christmas while the club shut, costing it $60,000.

LOVERBOY’S RESPONSE

Outside court, the Loverboy owners said there was video footage appearing to show the young man using his phone at times within the club that night.

“(He) must be the only teenager on earth (who) does not check their phone every two minutes, but so be it,” they said.

“When a trail of destruction is left behind by someone and it becomes our job to pick up the pieces, where’s the justice?”

Ralph MacIntosh pictured at Loverboy nightclub in November 2021, a month before the offending. Picture: Facebook

Mr MacIntosh, who attended Pembroke School and St Peter’s College, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with a legal direction under the Emergency Management Act.

A plea deal was linked to visiting Coffee Institute, at Walkerville, at 9am on Saturday, December 18 and not at the club.

Loverboy was not refererred to in court, but police had alleged he “remained at a city nightclub and did not quarantine”.

Despite a Royal Adelaide Hospital test at 8am on the Friday, Mr MacIntosh claimed he failed to read a positive test message and orders to isolate until 9am the next day.

Under then state law, anyone who had a PCR lab test had to isolate until a negative result.

Stephen Ey, defending, told the court his client, who was then double vaccinated. was “extremely remorseful and embarrassed”, had struggled with work and was subject to abuse from “keyboard warriors”.

Magistrate Edward Stratton-Smith declined to impose a conviction but issued a $1000 fine – reduced to $600.

Covid nightclub goer Ralph Macintosh.

Ralph MacIntosh arriving at Adelaide Magistrates Court, charged with breaching the Emergency Management Act by partying at nightclub after Covid diagnosis. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Stratton-Smith rejected calls to take into account his time in hotel quarantine as “punishment”.

“Although being in isolation is difficult, you were not alone in that respect,” the magistrate said.

“Many people who tested positive had to remain in isolation.

“You did not read the text message until the following morning although you probably realise you ought to have been alert to it to ensure you took the appropriate steps.

“I think you realise the importance with complying with these sort of directions, particularly in a pandemic.

“We all saw it caused a lot of devastation, economically and emotionally. It caused deaths around the world.

“At the time, (SA) authorities, and a number of people, were working hard to control the spread.

“I appreciate this has been a salutary and sobering experience for you.”

Mr MacIntosh refused to comment outside of court.

His mother is part of the Michell pastoralist family, which owns Australia’s oldest and largest wool export company.

There are no allegations being levelled against the family or the 151-year-old company.