Joel Cooney: Ron De Vu owner accused of headbutting man in alleged Melbourne Cup Day ‘brawl’
The owner of a popular Wollongong bar has been charged over an alleged brawl at the venue on Melbourne Cup Day in 2019.
Illawarra Star
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The owner of an Illawarra bar has been charged following an alleged violent brawl at the venue on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Joel Cooney, owner of Wollongong bar Ron De Vu was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray on July 15, after police allege he headbutted one man “at least five times” according to court documents.
The case was briefly mentioned at Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, however the 32-year-old was not required to appear due to the fact he is currently at a rehabilitation facility in Noosa.
According to court documents, police were called to Ron De Vu on Crown Street about 10pm on November 5 2019, following reports of a brawl.
It will be alleged police received several calls about the alleged incident, with reports glasses had been thrown and that a man was bleeding from the face.
When police arrived its alleged they broke up a number of people fighting on the street, including Cooney.
Police allege Cooney, who was working at Ron De Vu at the time of the incident, headbutted and punched a member of the public following a verbal altercation about entry into the bar.
A crime scene was established on Crown Street following the brawl and an investigation commenced. Following extensive inquiries, Cooney was charged on July 15.
The matter was briefly mentioned by Cooney’s lawyer on Tuesday before it was adjourned to a date next month.