Michael Corrigan pleads guilty for involvement in Murwillumbah protest

A movie stuntman who was seen riding a horse at protests in Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah has detailed his motivation for getting involved.

A movie stuntman who rode a horse in two different lockdown protests says he lost his job after the border between Queensland and NSW was closed.

Michael James Corrigan, 52, pleaded guilty in Murwillumbah Local Court on Wednesday to unlawfully participating in an outdoor gathering in a stay at home area.

Corrigan was charged for his involvement at a protest outside the Tweed Shire Council Chambers in Murwillumbah on August 31.

The court heard it happened nine days after he was fined for participating in a protest at the state border.

Defence lawyer Russell Baxter told the court his client lost his work in the film and TV industry when the borders were shut.

“This is the first time in his knowledge a person has been criticised for wanting to go to work,” Mr Baxter said.

Michael Corrigan, 52, pictured at the Murwillumbah protest on August 31.

He said his client thought taking the horse to the border protest would be a great idea for publicity and that he believed the horse, which was trained to be around people, would ensure he was socially distanced.

Mr Baxter said Corrigan had been asked by other protesters to attend the Murwillumbah protest with the horse, which he “foolishly” decided to attend, arriving late.

He told the court at both protests Corrigan had called for peaceful action and discouraged violence.

However, Magistrate Michael Dakin said Corrigan had addressed the remaining crowd, yelling out anti-lockdown slogans which hindered police moving people on.

“How can you submit that when you turn up horseback nine days after receiving an infringement for a similar offence … and you’re shouting anti-lockdown protest; how can you possibly say that’s not going to incite the crowd,” Mr Dakin said.

Michael Corrigan pictured at a state border protest where he received $7000 in fines. Picture: Richard Gosling

Mr Dakin went to adjourn the case for a disputed facts hearing however Mr Baxter conceded Corrigan had gone to the protest with the purpose of protesting the lockdown and border.

Mr Baxter said he only mentioned the anti-violence factor to compare to other violent protesters around the country which Mr Dakin said was irrelevant to his consideration.

Mr Baxter said Corrigan arrived late, there was no violence and he had refrained from going to further protests.

Bur Mr Dakin questioned why the $7000 in fines Corrigan received from the first protest hadn’t deterred him.

“In his mind the heavier handed the penalty, the more the government has something to hide,” Mr Baxter said.

A horse is surrounded by onlookers outside Murwillumbah Local Court on September 22, 2021.

Mr Dakin said Mr Corrigan had acted “incredibly selfishly” and had extremely high moral culpability and should be distinguished from people who had not been infringed nine-days earlier.

“This carries a penalty of six months imprisonment,” Mr Dakin said.

“He’s on notice.”

The case was adjourned to December 16 to allow Corrigan to get a sentencing assessment report.

Corrigan declined to comment when leaving the court.