Ex-Finks bikie Troy Fornaciari refused bail ahead of drug dealing, wounding trial

Troy Fornaciari, whose infamous facial tattoos include the words ‘Tuff’ and ‘Luck’, allegedly attacked a fellow drug dealer during a dispute over thousands of dollars in unpaid debts, a court has heard.

Troy Fornaciari.

An ex-Finks bikie boss allegedly attacked a fellow drug dealer and threatened to kneecap him in a dispute over thousands of dollars in unpaid debts, a court has heard.

Police allege Troy ‘Forno’ Fornaciari, the former president of the club’s South Coast chapter whose distinctive facial tattoos feature the words ‘Tuff’ and ‘Luck’ inked on his eyebrows, racked up his own $65,000 drug debt with an upline supplier after he allegedly dispersed up to 15 ounces of methamphetamine to dealers in the Illawarra during April 2022.

The NSW District Court on Wednesday heard Fornaciari turned to fellow alleged dealer Paul McKiernan with a plan to claw back the money, telling him he’d been “f—ked over by other people” and needed help to be able to “pump some stuff out” to “get back on top”.

The pair allegedly went into business, and McKiernan began selling meth allegedly obtained from Fornaciari, however police claim the relationship between the two men quickly soured, with each accusing the other of “ripping” him off.

The court heard this allegedly led Fornaciari to deliver a series of increasingly hostile threats to McKiernan about the lengths he would go to recoup the outstanding funds.

Troy Fornaciari.

“You’re coming for a drive with me, I’m going to put one in each of your kneecaps,” Fornaciari allegedly told McKiernan in early May 2022.

The court heard witnesses were expected to give evidence during Fornaciari’s upcoming trial in August that he had made it known to associates that he had access to a gun.

In mid-May, Fornaciari allegedly attacked McKiernan with a knife in an apparent escalation of the fight, leaving him with a gash on his head that had to be stapled in hospital.

It is alleged Fornaciari turned up at the hospital and waited in the carpark in a further act of intimidation, allegedly telling McKiernan’s friend he would shoot the pair if they didn’t come outside.

Fornaciari sent threats to McKiernan’s brother as well.

The court heard McKiernan was kept in hospital overnight, during which time his brother attempted to negotiate with Fornaciari via text message to resolve the issue.

It is alleged Fornaciari also sent threats to the brother.

Meanwhile, McKiernan reported the matter to police and gave an induced statement in which he disclosed the threats and Fornaciari’s alleged involvement in peddling drugs.

Fornaciari was arrested at Liverpool later that day and charged with wounding, commercial drug supply, using an offensive weapon and intimidation, to which he pleaded not guilty.

He was remanded in custody at the time but sought bail in court on Wednesday, with defence barrister Scott Fraser arguing the case against the 39-year-old was not a strong one.

He said evidence of conversations purportedly between Fornaciari and another dealer would be the subject of an admissibility argument at trial, and if they were thrown out, would reduce the strength of the crown case even further.

Mr Fraser said Fornaciari would agree to live with his mother in Nowra, report to police daily and abide by a curfew if released on bail.

Judge Sutherland refused the application, finding Fornaciari had not demonstrated his ongoing detention was not justified.

The case has been listed for a readiness hearing in May.