Lockdown protests Albury: Andrew Donnelly, Sharon Pilkington among those arrested

Five people - including one man who yelled out ‘the virus is a lie’ during lockdown protests in regional NSW - are facing criminal charges after they were arrested outside an MP’s office.

Five people have fronted court after a lockdown protest outside the Albury office of Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley in August.

Andrew Donnelly, 53, Sharon Louise Pilkington, 48, Josef Walter Brucknann, 30, Kris Pilkington, 51, and Michael Pech, 31, were arrested by police after they were allegedly involved in a protest outside the Liberal MP’s office on August 21.

Officers attended Kiewa Street, Albury, about 12.10pm on Saturday, following reports people were planning to protest, and spoke to a number of people who allegedly told authorities they were there to protest against the Covid lockdown.

Five people were arrested after protesting out the front of Sussan Ley's office on Kiewa Street, Albury. Picture: Google

They were arrested and charged with not complying with Covid-19 notice direction and failing to comply with direction.

All five had their matters heard in Albury Local Court on Monday, where police alleged the protests caused significant concern in relation to the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Mr Donnelly pleaded guilty to not complying with Covid-19 notice direction and not supplying police with details when requested.

Court documents state at 12.09pm on August 21, directly outside the front door of Ms Ley, on Kiewa St Albury, Mr Donnelly when he was approached by police.

Police spoke with Mr Donnelly who said: “It’s my common law right to protest.”

Mr Donnelly was asked to provide identification, but refused to do so.

He was taken back to Albury police station and while waiting transportation he stated, “the virus is a lie” and that “you the police are unlawful.”

Mr Donnelly did not appear in court, however he did enter a plea of guilty in writing via a letter he sent to the court.

The court heard Mr Donnelly identifies as a ‘sovereign citizen’ and does not believe in governments or the law, and claims to not follow the rules in NSW. He was convicted and received fines totalling $1000.

Mr Brucknann, 30, did not appear before the court and is currently on bail. He has not entered a plea and his matter was adjourned to November 15.

Ms Pilkington did not appear and has not entered a plea. Her matter was adjourned to November 1, where a plea is expected to be entered.

Mr Pilkington did not appear and has not entered a plea.

The case was adjourned to November 1, where a plea is expected to be entered.

Mr Pech has his charges of not complying with Covid-19 noticed direction and failing to comply with direction dismissed under the Mental Health Act.

Murray River Police District Commander, Detective Superintendent Paul Smith, urged the community to continue to comply with the Public Health Orders in order to stop the spread of Covid.

“Although the majority of people are doing the right thing, it is important that everyone maintains vigilance with the health orders to prevent COVID-19 from spreading into our community,” Supt Smith said.