Men granted permission to attend funeral, UK wedding after alleged Hells Angels gang gathering
Ten men have appeared in court after an alleged Hells Angels meeting earlier this year, with one allowed to fly to the UK, and the others to go to a Melbourne funeral.
Police & Courts
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One man has been granted permission to attend the wedding of the Manchester Hells Angel president despite allegedly gathering with multiple other club members earlier this year.
Arron James Cluse, Bradley Horlor, Harley Ray Moore and Terry Ian Polley applied to have their bail varied in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to attend a funeral in Melbourne later this month.
Peter Robert Michael Costello, Sean Etherington, Robert Alexander Hickey, Peter Keith Stacy, Jadon Leonard John Tree and Scott Michael Kristian Smith – who were not present in court – also asked for the same variation, which was not opposed by prosecution.
Jon Lister, for Mr Stacey, said his client was also asking permission to travel to the UK to attend a wedding in June.
A prosecutor said they had concerns about this application as they received information the wedding was for the president or former president of the Manchester Hells Angels.
“SAPOL considers that a variation of this kind would allow them further to engage in conduct … which would result in the defendant committing a very similar offence again,” the prosecutor said.
Magistrate Justin Wickens asked the prosecutor how they knew Mr Stacey would be engaging with other motorcycle members in public, which the prosecutor acknowledged they didn’t.
“If it’s a private service in the UK or a private wedding how is he committing an offence?” asked
Police allege members of the Hells Angels rode together from Cherry Gardens through the metro area, before dispersing at Pasadena on January 2.
Detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch charged thirteen men on January 12 with being present with two or more other participants of a criminal organisation.
The men were found at 16 homes across the state.
The other men charged are Shaun Blake Brand, Jake Andre Diesing, Graham Leslie Falconer, John Peter Lord Stacy and Nigel Woodard.
Police allege the men are members, prospects, or associates of Hells Angels – a declared criminal organisation under the Criminal Law Consolidation (Criminal Organisation) Regulations 2015.
Detective Inspector Fraser Huntley, Acting Officer in Charge of Crime Gangs Task Force said the law are in place to “ensure the safety of the public.”
“The laws relating to public gatherings of those connected with declared criminal organisations, such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, are in place to ensure public safety,” Mr Huntley said.
“Where gatherings of OMCGs are identified, the South Australia Police will investigate activities and take action to ensure the safety of the public.”
On Tuesday, Magistrate Justin Wickens granted all applications, with conditions that the men report to a police station upon their return.
All men are due back in court later this month.
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