Craig Liang: Mascot man sentenced over assault at Scruffy Murphy’s Bar

A day drinking with mates at an Irish pub went terribly wrong for a car spray painter when he was asked to leave four times, then assaulted a plain clothes police officer.

A drunken outing to an Irish pub went horribly wrong for a 28-year-old after he was asked to leave by the manager at multiple points and ended up swinging a closed fist at a police officer, a court heard.

Mascot man Craig Liang, who works as a car spray painter, fronted Downing Centre Local Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to re-enter Scruffy Murphy’s Bar on Goulburn St after he had been sent out of the pub and one count of common assault.

Around 1pm on May 19, Liang and his mates started drinking in the pub’s outside seating area, court documents state.

“After around half an hour, the manager of Scruffy Murphy’s Bar instructed the group to leave the location due to intoxication … (they were) informed no less than four times to leave the licensed premises from the manager,” court documents state.

Craig Liang (right) leaving Downing Centre Local Court.

After Liang refused to leave and continued drinking, the pub’s manager called the police — but even after officers arrived, Liang “was slow to leave, even as his companions were complying,” court documents state.

“Directly after the initial move on, (Liang) returned to the licenced premise and he was given a second individual move on direction (from the police officers),” court documents state.

But the court heard Liang soon attempted to return to the pub with one of his friends, unaware a plain clothes police officer was still there.

The pair were intercepted by the police officer and his friend became aggressive, at one point saying “Who do you cops think you are?”, the court heard.

Liang intervened when his friend was being subdued by police and swung a closed fist at the police officer, before being placed under arrest by three officers.

In court, Liang’s defence lawyer said his client didn’t know he was swinging a fist at a police officer, and was only acting in a manner to protect a friend who he felt was being treated unfairly.

Magistrate Gareth Christofi said he was satisfied this offence wouldn’t occur again because Liang has no criminal record, is “a gifted employee” and appears to be of good character.

Liang was found guilty but not convicted of the offences. He received a 12 month community release order (CRO).