Gold Coast Crime: Police drop public nuisance charge against Extinction Rebellion protestor Shaun Vincent Cunneen

A man who clashed with a member of the public at a climate protest and was subsequently fined for public nuisance has faced court.

A CLIMATE protester who was photographed punching a man at an Extinction Rebellion rally has had a public nuisance charge dropped.

Shaun Vincent Cunneen was fined $400 but challenged the notice in court when he pleaded not guilty.

Police offered no evidence and dropped the charge when it was briefly mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Cunneen, who attended an Extinction Rebellion organised rally at Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise on January 4, said he was pleased with the outcome but scathing of the process: “Today was the third appearance at court but obviously if I had done anything wrong they wouldn’t have dropped the charges,” he told the Bulletin outside of court.

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He accused another man of “punching” people at the rally.

PROTEST: Shaun Vincent Cunneen (right) had his public nuisance charge dropped by police but accused another man of “punching people”. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“In a split moment I didn’t really know how to react so I struck out. But if I didn’t strike out somebody would have been hurt,” he claimed.

A Bulletin photographer captured images of Mr Cunneen striking another man at the rally on January 4.

Asked why the charge was discontinued, a Queensland Police Service spokesman said: “Upon consideration of the matter, and as a result of consultation between the defence and prosecution, the matter was subsequently withdrawn.”

Police had previously alleged a 27-year-old approached a group of climate-change protesters and began “verbally abusing marchers”.

Police had alleged he was punched by a 48-year-old protester and a “physical altercation ensued”.

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But Mr Cunneen claimed: “The police attitude was you’re allowed to go and assault these protesters, we’re not going to get involved until one of them strikes back. “We’re peaceful protesters but we’re not complete punch bags.”

Police confirmed a 27-year-old man had been fined $800 for public nuisance.

Extinction Rebellion spokeswomen Sally Williams had previously described the incident as a disaster.

“We’re nonviolent protesters,” she said in January. “This is a disaster for us.”