Megan Patricia Byrnes faces Gold Coast court after attaching herself to coal train near controversial Adani Carmichael coal mine

A youth justice worker who locked herself to a train near the controversial Adani Carmichael coal mine has been backed by a colourful bunch of protesters at her court appearance.

A juvenile justice worker who used a “sleeping dragon” to attach herself to a train near the controversial Adani Carmichael coal mine felt “it was the only action she could take”.

On November 15 last year, Megan Patricia Byrnes used wires and clips to secure her arms to the 18th carriage of a train waiting to go to the Abbot Point port.

Megan Byrnes locked to the train. Picture: Supplied

The 61-year-old delayed the train for more than three hours. The wait cost more than $300,000.

Byrnes pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to four charges, including using a dangerous attachment device, trespass, interfere with a railway and contravene a direction of police.

While Byrnes was being sentenced a small group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, waving banners and playing We Shall Not Be Moved on a saxophone.

The court was told Byrnes had travelled to the Bowen area specifically to protest.

The supporters out the front of Southport Courthouse. Picture: Lea Emery

Defence lawyer Rachel Barnes said Byrnes had tried other means of protest such as writing to the state government and Bravus, formally known as Adani.

“She does feel it was the only action she could take. She feels very passionately about these issues and sees this as a non-violent action she can take,” she said.

Ms Barnes said Byrnes worked in juvenile justice and after hours in domestic violence support.

Magistrate Mark Howden placed Byrnes on a $3000 good behaviour bond for
18 months. No conviction was recorded.

Outside of court, Byrnes was greeted by claps and cheers from supporters.

“A lot of people have actually done the same thing as I have and it has actually worked because the Adani mine has been reduced,” she said. “A lot of people have sacrificed a lot to actually stop this mine.”

The group of protesters in Southport. Picture: Lea Emery

Byrnes said she was “not likely” to do something similar and said the magistrate was “very merciful in this case”.

Bowen Rail Company general manager Brendan Lane said protesters seemed oblivious to the dangers they placed themself in.

“What this protester did was incredibly selfish, she could have been killed or seriously injured,” he said.

He said the protester who helped Byrnes lock on to the train should “take a hard look at themselves” for putting another person’s life at risk.

Adani Australia chief executive and country head Lucas Dow said the state government lost enough money in coal royalties to pay for 45 nurses’ annual salaries each time anti-fossil fuel activists blocked railway lines and stopped trains in the Bowen Basin.