Loverboy Covid breach: Ralph MacIntosh faces court charged with breaching legal directions by partying at Adelaide nightclub

A teenager has appeared in court charged with visiting a popular city nightclub after authorities told him to immediately quarantine because he was Covid-19 positive.

A teenager accused of visiting a popular city nightclub while infectious with Covid-19 is “investigating” evidence against him, his lawyer has revealed.

Ralph James Mackenzie MacIntosh, 19, formerly of Kensington Park, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Courtaccused of allegedly flouting legal directions.

Ralph MacIntosh arriving at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: Morgan Sette

The teen, who has changed his bail address to the family home in the Adelaide Hills, is charged with breaching South Australia’s Emergency Management Act.

His first hearing on Friday morning lasted for only one minute.

During the brief hearing, his lawyer Stephen Ey told the court he was seeking further information that needed “more assessment”.

This includes club CCTV footage and details from SA Health about any official contact.

None of the police allegations were aired in court.

Mr MacIntosh, from one of the state’s wealthiest families, is accused of visiting Loverboy nightclub, on Hindley St, instead of undertaking 14 days of quarantine.

Mr MacIntosh refused to comment as he left court. Picture: Morgan Sette

He has yet to plead to one count of fail to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act 2004.

Court documents state he failed to comply with a requirement or direction “without reasonable excuse”.

SA Health had messaged him at 10.18pm on Friday, December 17, notifying him of his positive Covid-19 result and warned he was “required by law to isolate immediately”.

Police say that without a reasonable excuse, failing to comply with a direction during a major emergency amounts to a criminal offence.

Mr MacIntosh, who attended some of the state’s top private schools including Pembroke School and St Peter’s College, faces a maximum $20,000 fine or two years’ jail.

The alleged Covid-positive nightclubber is from one of SA’s wealthiest families.

After no objection from prosecutors, Magistrate Roderick Jenson adjourned the matter for six weeks until mid-April due to “further disclosure requested”.

Outside court, Mr MacIntosh, wearing a mask, white chinos, an open-neck blue shirt and a blue jacket, and his parents refused to comment.

But Mr Ey said outside court that his client was exercising his legal right to investigate the matter and that he had no reason to apologise yet.

“We’ve investigating the matter and we’ll assess the evidence,” Mr Ey said outside court.

Mr MacIntosh’s 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.