Marley Kieran Hennessey sentenced in Townsville’s Magistrate Court for assaulting a police officer and public nuisance

A construction worker who threatened to “rip” a taxi driver’s “jaw off” and later assaulted Night Owl staff in drunken rampages has been told he needs to seek help for his alcohol problem.

Marley Kieran Hennessey, 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, common assault and public nuisance

A Townsville tradie told a taxi driver he would “rip” her “jaw off” only a couple of months after he assaulted a police officer at a kebab shop during a drunken rage.

Marley Kieran Hennessey appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday after he committed four separate alcohol-fuelled assaults, police prosecutor Tim Madsen said.

He told the court the first of the incidents occurred in late 2024 when he was involved in a physical altercation in front of the kebab shop on Flinders Street.

The prosecutor said when police arrived at the scene Hennessey shoved an officer in the chest and was arrested before being let go without any charges being made.

However when Hennessey was let go he turned to the police officer he had previously assaulted and said “I’ll see you soon” before he walked into him using his chest and shoulder and was once again arrested but this time charged with assault, the court heard.

“Nothing would have happened to him, but he couldn’t help himself,” Mr Madsen said.

Marley Kieran Hennessey appeared in Townsville's Magistrate Court on Wednesday for a string of assault and public nuisance offences over multiple months. Photo: Supplied (Facebook)

A week after being released on bail for that offence, police were called to a Night Owl in Thuringowa where Hennessey was being abusive to staff, throwing his wallet and hat around the store and blocking the door, Mr Madsen said.

The prosecutor said Hennessy shoved both staff members in the neck before he was arrested.

A month later, a taxi driver kicked Hennessey and a female friend out of her cab after they were being too drunk and verbally abusive, Mr Madsen said.

“He made threats to the taxi drivers including ‘I’ll rip your jaw off,’” he said.

When his friend approached him and told him to calm down he pushed her to the ground, the court heard.

Hennessey’s defence lawyer Tim Fedorowytsch instructed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Services said the father of two had started to turn his life around since his last arrest.

“(He) had the epiphany that if I don’t drink, I don’t get in trouble with the police and my life gets better, so he gave it up completely,” he said.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan labelled Hennessy an “angry drunk” and recommended he seek professional help for his problem.

“If you’re going around everyday feeling a little bit angry, you drink a lot, those feelings are amplified,” she said.

“It’s not just about stopping alcohol, it’s also about trying to get to the bottom of why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling.

“You’re capable of being better than this and you need to start expecting better for yourself.”

Hennessey pleaded guilty to assaulting police, common assault and public nuisance.

He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service to be completed within 12 months.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Marley Kieran Hennessey sentenced in Townsville’s Magistrate Court for assaulting a police officer and public nuisance