John Barilaro’s big win in fight against assault charges

Former deputy premier John Barilaro has successfully had assault charges dismissed on mental health grounds.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro has had charges for allegedly assaulting a cameraman dismissed on mental health grounds after his lawyer declared he feared similar harassment could result in a “funeral”.

Mr Barilaro’s solicitor Danny Eid told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday his client was subjected to “grubby” media practices and was suffering significant stress and mental health issues at the time of the altercation with a Channel 7 cameraman in July last year.

The former Nationals state leader last year entered two not guilty pleas after he was alleged to have assaulted cameraman Matt Costello and damaged his equipment during a clash while on a night out in Manly.

The incident was captured on mobile phone footage and the matter was set to go to hearing in September.

However, on Friday, Mr Eid successfully applied for the matter to be dealt with on mental health grounds.

Magistrate Susan Horan dismissed the charges and ordered Mr Barilaro attend regular appointments with psychologists for 12 months.

Former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Friday applied for the charges to be dealt with on mental health grounds. Picture: NCA NewsWire/James Gourley. : Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Ben Symons

Ms Horan found the incident was an “aberration”, noting his clean criminal history, and said at the time he was dealing with unwanted attention from the media.

She also found that the alleged assault was on the lower end of the spectrum and he only made contact with the cameraman’s forearm during a brief scuffle.

Mr Eid earlier told the court Mr Barilaro had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and was at the time of the incident being harassed on a night out.

“It has to stop, there has to be a cut off point,” Mr Eid said.

Mr Barilaro was out with friends drinking and eating pizza when he was approached outside a bar by the cameraman and asked questions, prompting the scuffle.

The charges were successfully dismissed. : Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Ben Symons

Mr Barilaro’s clash with the cameraman happened amid a parliamentary inquiry which probed his selection for a $500,000 a year trade job to the US.

There has not been a determination following the inquiry.

Mr Eid said Mr Barilaro had been diagnosed with “serious” mental health issues stretching back to 2019.

He told the court Mr Barilaro was subjected to “filth”, “grubby practices” and harassment by sections of the media.

“The last thing we want in our society is for there to be a funeral and all the goodies to say ‘if only I’d known, if only he’d spoken to me’,” Mr Eid said.

The prosecution opposed the mental health application, citing the need to protect the community.

John Barilaro was charged over his alleged role in an altercation with a cameraman. Picture: Instagram.

However Ms Horan found he posed no danger to the community.

“He’s got nothing to say and nor should he say anything, he hasn’t done anything wrong,” Mr Eid said outside court when asked if he would apologise to the cameraman.

“(Mr Barilaro) is still struggling so I suggest certain sections of the media start treating people with certain boundaries because things can go sour and ugly very quickly.

“It’s about time that the media have boundaries.”