The Snitch: Liz Deegan back managing crises at new, old employer

A few short months after her unceremonious sacking as the NSW Police media chief, experienced media professional Liz Deegan is back to managing crises at a new, old employer.

A few short months after her unceremonious sacking as the NSW Police media chief, an experienced media professional is back to managing crises at a new, old employer.

Snitch found Liz Deegan – formerly a News Corp executive – in familiar territory, handling a sticky situation for an embattled client.

Ms Deegan has returned to Cato & Clive as a senior adviser – exactly as she was for two years and three months before her 11-month tenure at the NSW Police Force.

This week, she was handling matters for embattled hospitality group Swillhouse, as its venue Shady Pines Saloon faces eviction after the landlord took issue with widely publicised allegations of sexual misconduct by the venue’s staff.

Cato & Clive is the brain child of experienced communications expert Sue Cato and Clive Mathieson – a former editor at The Australian.

Liz Deegan has returned to Cato & Clive as a senior adviser.

In March, Ms Deegan was told her services as top cop Commissioner Karen Webb’s most senior unsworn aide were no longer required after a disastrous month in the headlines.

The commissioner faced intense scrutiny at the time for media performances after serving police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged over the alleged double murder of couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird.

Even the prospect of a $300,000 pay packet has failed to attract a suitable candidate to the role of Webb’s spin doctor 18 months later.

Court lifeline

The devastated parents of a young woman seriously injured in a crash in Sydney on September 24 have won a legal battle to keep her life support switched on, so they can repatriate her to China.

Doctors determined Xinyi Zhang, also known as Juno, who is in a coma on life support at St Vincent’s Hospital, had “catastrophic” brain injuries and that preservation of life was “futile”

Her parents, who remain optimistic after seeing Ms Zhang open her eyes, launched a legal battle in the NSW Supreme Court in a bid to keep their daughter’s life support switched on.

The Chinese nationals want to medically repatriate her to Shanghai for treatment, on a flight that will cost $430,000.

While they try to pull the cash together, they argued that St Vincent’s should keep Ms Zhang intubated, and resuscitate her if necessary.

In court, St Vincent’s argued that “however unfortunate it may be”, continuing life support is futile.

Justice David Hammerschlag made a decision in favour of Ms Zhang’s family on Friday, ordering that St Vincent’s keep her intubated for eight days.

However, he ordered against resuscitation if Ms Zhang were to pass prior to her flight to China.

CU in court

It’s always chuckle-worthy when someone misses the memo about appropriate court attire, and an eagle-eyed Snitch correspondent was particularly amused this week when a woman entered Campbelltown courthouse wearing a CU in the NT jumper

CU in the NT has become the unofficial slogan for the Top End after entrepreneurs Adam Blackburn and Blaze Tripp launched a highly controversial tourism campaign almost 10 years ago.

Darwin Council voted to ban the sale of all CU in the NT products at local markets in 2019 – but the merchandise has since reached every corner of the country via its website.

Campbelltown court officials did not see the funny side and told the woman to ditch the jumper, despite her only being there to see the registry.

Snitch will exercise our right to silence on that decision, but it’s fair to say it’s not the worst outfit choice we’ve seen in a courthouse before.

Brenden Hills is on leave