Woman praises John Howard for stepping in to domestic street fight

The woman at the centre of a heated domestic violence incident on a Sydney street attended Manly Court on Tuesday and spoke out to praise former prime minister John Howard for stepping forward to protect her.

Sonja Mooney, outside Manly Court, thanked former PM John Howard for intervening in a fight between her and her male partner on a Wollstonecraft street and staying with her until police arrived. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

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The woman at the centre of a heated domestic violence incident on a Sydney street has spoken out to praise former prime minister John Howard for stepping forward to protect her.

Sonja Mooney, 44, and her male partner, were involved in a scuffle outside the block of flats where they live in Wollstonecraft last Tuesday night just as the sprightly ex-politician passed by on his daily walk.

Former prime minister John Howard, pictured outside his home in Wollstonecraft this week, was hailed a hero for stepping into a physical domestic dispute. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mr Howard, 79, has been hailed a hero for deciding to stop and say something to the pair, who then stopped fighting.

They had both been drinking.

The man, 47, then ran inside the flats in Milner Cres to call the police while Mr Howard waited with Ms Mooney on the street until officers arrived.

Ms Mooney, a qualified chef and mother of three, is her partner’s full-time carer. He has a mental health condition.

As a result of the fight she was charged with breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order. One of the order’s conditions is that she not be in the company of her partner for at least 12 hours after she has been drinking.

Sonja Mooney, outside Manly Court, where she had a charge of breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order dismissed. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Manly Local Court heard today that Ms Mooney and her partner visited a McDonald’s fast food restaurant on Tuesday to buy milkshakes, which they took to Balmoral Beach.

A police facts sheet tendered to court said the pair then topped the milkshakes up with butterscotch schnapps.

When they arrived home they shared a can of bourbon and cola.

At 8.45pm that night the pair became involved in the physical confrontation in the street.

Outside court today Ms Mooney, who arrived in Sydney from Perth about a year ago, thanked Mr Howard for stopping.

“He came over to help after he saw us in a bit of a scuffle,” she said. “I thank him for that.

“He was very nice and offered to stay with me.

“We talked a bit until the police turned up.”

Ms Mooney pleaded guilty to the Apprehended Violence Order breach and told Magistrate Christopher Longley, through her solicitor, that she apologised for the incident and that it would never happen again.

Mr Longley dismissed the charge.