Darwin City councillor Amye Un’s son Juan Patrick Un pleads guilty over Covid rally
A councillor’s son and a self-proclaimed journalist has become the first person to plead guilty over an anti-mandate rally.
Police & Courts
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THE son of a Darwin City councillor and a self-proclaimed journalist has become the first person to plead guilty to their role in an anti-mandate rally that turned violent.
Juan Patrick Un appeared before Judge Ben O’Loughlin on Monday to plead guilty to contravening an emergency declaration by attending the November 6 rally.
Police alleged about 500 unmasked protesters ignored Covid health measures, culminating in a violent clash where rocks and pepper spray were exchanged between rioters and police.
Mr Un was not accused of taking part in any violence.
Seven months after the incident, the self-represented man told Mr O’Loughlin he was tired of having the charge “lingering” over his head.
“A lot of my friends got involved in it. I felt it was my duty to show support,” Un told the court.
“It was to voice our opinion and stand up for what we believe in and our right to protest.
“I was asked if I could document and record it, which I was happy to.
“(I was) not thinking about the repercussions of what has happened.”
Councillor Amye Un waited in the courtroom gallery to support her son as he became the first to be convicted over the rally.
The trained craftsman claimed he was in a “journalistic” role and did not feel he needed to wear a mask.
“Unfortunately now I’m here,” he said.
Police provided footage posted on Facebook showing the maskless single dad carrying his son on his shoulders while at the anti-mandate protest.
Mr O’Loughlin said the incident occurred when the risk of Covid for the Territory was at its peak.
“This was at a time when the Covid pandemic was at its probably most concerning (point), where a lockdown was issued,” Mr O’Loughlin said.
“It’s understandable why people might want to protest about such restrictions on their liberty.
“But equally at the time of the pandemic the laws were there for a legitimate reason for the benefit of society.”
He also said the large protest put yet another strain on the already stretched police resources.
Mr O’Loughlin used his discretion to not impose the full $5024 infringement notice, instead handing down a $1000 fine with a $150 victims levy.
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