Andrew Spira: Entrepreneur breached safety notice against fiance Julia Maguire

EDITOR'S NOTE:  On July 19, a severity appeal was upheld in Downing Centre District Court where the conviction was overturned and the sentence was reduced to a nine-month conditional release order. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:  On July 19, a severity appeal was upheld in Downing Centre District Court where the conviction was overturned and the sentence was reduced to a nine-month conditional release order.

A successful Sydney entrepreneur and relative of media mogul Ita Buttrose has claimed a conviction for breaching a Victorian family violence safety notice against his fiance could ruin their lives.

Andrew Spira, 23, was supported in court by his 37-year-old partner, Julia Maguire, who both vowed to appeal the ruling over the breach of the notice issued while the pair were on holiday.

Speaking outside court to the Wentworth Courier about the ruling over several phone calls Spira made to Maguire when he was not allowed to contact her, Spira said the punishment was “completely over the top”.

“It was all a misunderstanding. I am very disappointed in the justice system,” he said.

“We live together. We have 11 investment properties together. I pay 50 per cent tax. I do all the right things. This could ruin our lives.”

Andrew Spira and Julia Maguire in their Elizabeth Bay apartment block. Picture: John Appleyard

Ms Maguire added the couple were shocked and disappointed.

The couple, well-known in their respective industries and in real estate circles for their large investment profile in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, both attended Downing Centre Local Court for the sentencing over the notice breach.

Spira is the son of socialite Lizzie Buttrose – the niece of Ita Buttorse – and is the founder and chief of mega business loan broker Pineapple Funding. Ms Maguire is the executive director of media relations agency The Capital Network.

In a letter of apology issued to court, Spira explained his version of events, beginning with a trip to Melbourne on April 18. He said the couple drove down during business hours instead of flying due to Spira’s anxiety over Covid-19 and arrived exhausted before going out to dinner and back to their room at the Crown.

Ms Maguire and Spira bought the Elizabeth Bay apartment at auction for $3.41 million. Picture: John Appleyard

“The witness misheard what was said in the hotel room; and although I respect police have an important job to do when it comes to domestic violence; we both wish that the police investigators would have listened to us more that we love each other, and that there was no domestic violence,” he wrote.

“We were playing the iPad, celebrating the end of the work week, and processing the week that was”.

In Ms Maguire’s character reference tendered to court, she explained they were playing music and had a verbal dispute about not spending Easter with their families, driving to Melbourne instead of flying and their “respective challenges and responsibilities”.

She wrote police and security guards soon attended their room due to a noise complaint, forced her to leave, and issued a family safety notice that required her to temporarily move out of the Vaucluse home she shared with Spira and for the couple to cease contact.

Spira, the son of Lizzie Buttrose, is 13 years younger than Ms Maguire. Picture: Facebook

Agreed facts show the breach was in the form of eight attempted or successful phone calls from Spira to Ms Maguire in the two days after the couple returned from Melbourne and lasted between 0 and 531 seconds.

When police became aware of the breach, they attended Ms Maguire’s home and noticed the lights were on, but the intercom system went unanswered.

“Police called the protected person and asked if she was home and aware of the Victorian notice restricting the accused from the location and if the accused was in the location with her,” the facts read.

“All questions were answered with ‘no comment’ and the house lights were turned off.”

In Spira’s apology letter, he said the couple are also business partners and they spoke on the phone about pressing business and family matters.

Spira apologised and said he deeply regretted his actions.

Ms Maguire and Spira share a large investment portfolio. Picture: John Appleyard

Ms Maguire said in her character reference that there had never been domestic violence committed in their relationship, that they are inseparable, in-love and planning to start a family this year.

Spira’s defence lawyer, Michael Kuzilny, told the court two days after the pair returned from Melbourne, they appeared via video link to Melbourne’s Magistrates’ Court where the notice was amended with only the requirement that no domestic violence be committed, therefore allowing them to live and work together again. That notice is due to expire on June 20.

“He’s remorseful, he’s embarrassed; he says he didn’t fully appreciate the seriousness of the notice,” Mr Kuzilny said.

He went on to tell the court Spira had a troubled past but had turned his life around.

“He founded Pineapple Funding which is all over Australia, he’s up at 5am to meditate, he’s got lots of business meetings,” he said.

Spira was convicted of breaching the violence notice and sentenced to a nine-month community corrections order, discounted by 25 per cent due to his early guilty plea.

Magistrate Derek Price said he must consider a message of deterrence and of the seriousness of following family violence requirements.

“In terms of objective seriousness, it’s eight telephone calls,” Magistrate Price said.

“I note he’s a young person with a good future ahead of him, is respected and admired by those around him and his rehabilitation prospects are good.”

“But there must be a clear deterrence message given in court. It doesn’t matter about your business interests, you can’t make a phone call when there is a notice. You should be convicted.”

An appeal for the sentence is due at Downing Centre Court on August 4, with the conviction set aside until then.