Men charged over alleged Murray River houseboat incident

Two men have been charged after allegedly hurling abuse and flashing their genitalia at a group of women on a Murray River houseboat.

Two men have been charged after they allegedly intimidated a group of women on a houseboat floating on the Murray River.

A woman and eight of her friends hired a Moama on Murray houseboat near Echuca on Saturday when a group of about 15 men approached their boat.

The men, who were on another boat, asked to join them but the women declined.

A few hours later, the men came back and two of them jumped on the women’s boat.

The women, some of whom were pregnant, told the men to get off but they refused and allegedly started hurling abuse.

They allegedly flashed their genitalia, urinated on the women’s belongings and yelled death threats.

A group of women were allegedly harassed by men while on a houseboat on the Murray River. Picture: 3AW

Shocking video footage also captured the moment glass bottles were thrown before the men allegedly rammed the women’s boat.

New South Wales Police spoke with two men, aged 26 and 28, in Victoria on Tuesday afternoon.

“Both men were issued with court attendance notices for the offence of intimidation,” a spokesman said.

They are expected to front Moama Local Court on May 11.

It comes as Moama on Murray manager Damien Nunan told the Herald Sun the men were allegedly aggressive and threatening when he confronted them over their actions.

“The behaviour was disgraceful from this group and I would have to say that it was my worst experience of dealing with a group by a long way in more than 15 years of experience,” he said.

The men jumped between boats, terrifying the women. Picture: 7 News

“It has left us with a very bad taste in our mouth.

“The group were very aggressive and threatening in their behaviour ... it was the most disrespectful display by a group I have ever come across by a long margin.”

One of the women on the boat, who wished not to be named, told 3AW her friends were terrified.

“It was absolutely terrifying, we were really scared for our safety,” she said.

“There was just no reasoning with them either.

“It was really alarming.”

The woman said their boat was moored in the middle of bushland so her friends locked themselves upstairs to escape the alleged abuse.

“Some of them were so intoxicated they were jumping between the boats, falling in,” she said.

“The whole thing was so scary.”

It’s understood one man from the group, apologised to Mr Nunan on Monday night.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.