Jai Ryan: Phillip Island plumber sentenced for attacking gay hairdresser over rainbow home

A privileged plumber called a gay man a “faggot” and said he “freaked him out” during a scathing attack over his Phillip Island rainbow home.

Jai Ryan pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates' Court.

A privileged plumber called a gay man a “faggot” and said he “freaked him out” during a scathing attack over his new rainbow home, a court has heard.

Jai Ryan, 24, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to one count of unlawful assault.

The court heard Ryan verbally assaulted his neighbour Mykey O’Halloran, a popular Melbourne hairdresser, because he planned to paint his Phillip Island house rainbow.

Ryan told Mr O’Halloran’s “don’t paint your f**king house rainbow” when he knocked on his door about 9.30pm on March 16.

Mr O’Halloran said he didn’t feel comfortable talking to Ryan but Ryan refused to leave.

He told Mr O’Halloran to “see what happens if you do (paint your house), you gay c**t” and “f**king faggot c**t”.

The court heard Ryan’s mates dragged him away before Ryan was arrested.

In a police interview, Ryan admitted he went to Mr O’Halloran’s house but said he didn’t threaten or hurt him.

Ryan said he was angry because he had a “shit day at work” but that he didn’t like gay people because they “freak him out”.

He also said gay people were “not his type of people” and he refused to be friends with them.

Ryan said his property would be devalued if Mr O’Halloran painted his house rainbow.

In his victim’s impact statement Mr O’Halloran said the homophobic attack was traumatic.

“It’s bought back the trauma of my childhood, high school bullying and assaults that I experienced in the past,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“My spirit has been dampened by the incident, I’ve felt flat and depleted.”

The community helped Mykey O'Halloran paint his Phillip Island house rainbow. Picture: Supplied

The hairdresser said he had experienced panic attacks, anxiety and post traumatic stress since.

“I can’t relax and feel peace in my own home anymore,” he said.

“I have nightmares about Jai which indicate that this assault has psychologically subconsciously affected me.”

Ryan’s lawyer Rebecca Fairthorne said the Wimbledon Heights plumber was under stress at work at the time of the attack.

“He learnt a lot of information from the community about the plan to decorate the property,” Ms Fairthorne said.

“It wasn’t clear what the plans were and he was highly concerned about the impact on his property.”

Ms Faithorne said Ryan’s behaviour was inappropriate and a “once-off isolated incident”.

“He has experienced stress and anguish,” Ms Fairthorne said.

“He can’t change the conduct on the night but in an attempt to move forward, he has apologised to the victim.”

Magistrate Marita Altman slammed Ryan, calling him uneducated and ignorant.

“Gays are everywhere,” Magistrate Altman said.

“They work in the court, the police force — our community is beautifully diverse.”

Magistrate Altman said Ryan’s actions were “breathlessly stupid”.

“You are a white, heterosexual, cisgender male,” she said.

“You have all the privilege in the world.”

Ryan was sentenced to a good behaviour bond for a period of 12 months and was ordered to pay a $2500 fine to Thorne Harbour Health — an organisation that supports the LGBTQI community.

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