Joel Cooney: Nightclub owner sentenced for ‘utterly disproportionate’ headbutt attack

The owner of a popular Illawarra social haunt has “stepped back” from the nightclub scene after assaulting a would-be patron. He has learned his fate for the incident in court.

A Wollongong nightclub owner has copped his punishment for assaulting a drunken racegoer outside his establishment nearly three years ago.

Joel Cooney, 34, pleaded guilty to common assault in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday with the owner of the popular Crown St haunt Ron De Vu being placed on a nine-month community corrections order.

The incident occurred at about 10pm on Melbourne Cup night in 2019 after the victim, his wife and a couple of friends had been living it up at Kembla Grange Racecourse.

The victim and his group were turned away from neighbouring nightclub Mr Crown due to their levels of intoxication before turning their attention to Ron De Vu.

A Ron De Vu security guard also turned the group away before a verbal exchange between the staff member and the victim, which was within earshot of Cooney who was speaking with another member of the group.

Wollongong nightclub owner Joel Cooney outside Downing Centre Local Court earlier this year. Picture: Liam Mendes

The victim‘s wife tried to usher him away, but he tried stepping into the venue when he was grabbed by Cooney with the nightclub owner headbutting the man four times.

This attack led to a scuffle breaking out between a number of Ron De Vu employees and members of the group.

The victim didn‘t require immediate medical attention, however, he attended a GP the following day.

In court on Tuesday, Cooney‘s lawyer Ben Jamison said his client was facing many issues in his life at time of the incident and has since had a son and undertaken residential drug rehabilitation.

Mr Jamison said Cooney had “stepped back” from the nightclub scene with his mother stepping into the void.

Joel Cooney at his Ron De Vu nightclub. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Michael O‘Brien scorned Cooney’s “disproportionate and inexcusable” behaviour before convicting him and handing down his sentence.

“If you‘re going to operate a licensed establishment you’re going to encounter people behaving badly and they’ll often be intoxicated,” the magistrate said.

“Your response was utterly disproportionate and inexcusable.

“Police officers don‘t look forward to dealing with bad behaviour, but they know that’s what they will be dealing with.”

The CCO will expire in May, 2023.