Greengate Hotel Killara ordered to pay compensation after pub patron James Mansour assaulted

A popular Sydney pub has copped a five-figure compensation bill after a wild brawl resulted in a pub patron being assaulted and ‘falsely imprisoned’.

The incident occurred at the popular Greengate Hotel venue in Killara.

A north shore pub has been ordered to pay $28,000 in compensation after a wild brawl resulted in a pub patron being assaulted and “falsely imprisoned” by venue staff.

The NSW District Court has awarded James Mansour monetary damages after he was assaulted and detained on the ground outside the Greengate Hotel in Killara in 2021.

Mr Mansour, who was aged 20 at the time, attended the pub with friends when they became involved in an altercation with staff including security guards.

During the course of the evening, Mr Mansour alleged he was assaulted, subjected to a battery and detained by the hotel’s licensee Andrew Lockhart-Ross.

Mr Mansour claimed damages against Mr Lockhart-Ross and Marhop Pty Limited, the owner and operator of the hotel on the basis it was vicariously liable for the conduct of its employees.

The incident occurred at the Greengate Hotel in Killara.

The court heard that on the night of the incident, Mr Mansour had been inside the pub when a group of three young men, including a friend of Mr Mansour, were denied entry to the venue for showing signs of intoxication.

The group then became involved in a “heated exchange” with security guards which escalated when a guard allegedly chased one of the men, before dragging him on the footpath.

A photo of the Killara venue.

Shortly after, Mr Mansour arrived to help his friend to his feet before attempting to return to the venue – claiming he needed to collect his wallet.

But before entering the venue, Mr Mansour was intercepted by Mr Lockhart-Ross who told him to leave the area.

The court heard a security guard then “advanced” on Mr Mansour and pushed him backwards towards the Pacific Hwy opposite the pub’s main entrance.

As the altercation continued, the court heard the venue’s operations manager Nathan Moran pushed Mr Mansour “with considerable force” before Mr Lockhart Ross threw his arm around Mansour’s neck, knocking him to the ground and hitting his head on the concrete path.

Mr Mansour was held on the ground and restrained by a security guard and Mr Moran for about 10 minutes before police arrived.

Mr Mansour was subsequently charged with assault, however he told the court the charges were later “dropped”.

Mr Lockhart-Ross told the court he did not direct the security guard or Mr Moran to restrain Mr Mansour, but conceded that if he had directed them to release Mr Mansour, they would have done so.

Marhop Pty Ltd and Mr Lockhart-Ross contended that Mr Mansour’s behaviour during the night rendered it necessary for him to be held on the ground and detained.

But District Court Judge Kevin Andronos in his judgement found Mr Lockhart-Ross had “executed an extremely reckless and dangerous manoeuvre on the plaintiff by bringing him to the ground in the way that he did”.

Mr Andronos found Mr Mansour had displayed “vulgar and abusive language” during the altercation but said his conduct was not violent.

“Mr Lockhart-Ross’s conduct was completely disproportionate to any reasonable perception of any threat posed by (Mr Mansour),” Mr Andronos said.

“Although the period of the restraint was short, the disgrace and humiliation was substantial.

“The plaintiff is lucky that he did not suffer serious injury as a result of Mr Lockhart-Ross’s actions.”

The court awarded Mr Mansour a total of $28,000 in damages for assault, battery and false imprisonment.

The Greengate Hotel was contacted for comment about the case but did not respond to questions at the time of publication.