Bar Wunder owner Mark Kenneth McElligott has court appearance excused

The 56-year-old bar owner was not required to be in court when his charges of failing to comply with a Covid-19 direction were first mentioned.

Supporters of Bar Wunder outside Toowoomba Courthouse on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, but the venue’s owner Mark Kenneth McElligott did not appear in court. Picture: Kevin Farmer

While a band of about 30 supporters, some carrying placards, gathered outside the Hume St Courthouse on Tuesday, the owner of Bar Wunder was a “no show” when the Ruthven St venue’s charges were first mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Mark Kenneth McElligott, 56, was not required to be in court for the brief mention of the Bar Wunder matters but was represented by solicitor Derek Perkins, of Queensland Lawyers, who appeared by phone.

Mr Perkins said his client was facing two charges, both counts of failing to comply with Covid-19 direction, emergency officer, one imposed on December 21 and the other on January 22.

Mr Perkins said he had conferenced with Mr McElligott on Tuesday morning and asked that his client be excused from appearing in court and sought an adjournment of three to four weeks.

The court heard Mr McElligott’s partner had been granted watch house bail to appear in the same court for mention on similar charges on March 16.

Neither accused has as yet been required to enter any pleas to their respective charges.

The charges arise from the state government’s new Covid-19 rules which came into effect on December 17, effectively banning unvaccinated people from pubs, cafes, restaurants, festivals, entertainment venues, museums, galleries and libraries.

After repeated public statements against the mandate, Bar Wunder was slugged with a $6892 fine for allegedly failing to comply with the public health directive on the first weekend they came into effect.

Magistrate Howard Osborne remanded Mr McElligott on bail and adjourned his matters for mention back in the same court on February 22.

Originally published as Bar Wunder owner Mark Kenneth McElligott has court appearance excused