Stuart MacGill opens up on the ‘fatal mistake’ that ruined his life and why he is not a drug addict
Stuart MacGill opens up about his ‘fatal mistake’ that has cost him so dearly, why the word ‘addict’ does not apply to him and dealing with the aftermath of a profound ‘lapse in judgement’.
Stuart MacGill claims he never realised he was breaking the law when he made the “fatal mistake’’ that, by his own admission, ruined his post cricket life.
In his first interview since being found guilty in a Sydney court of taking part in a drug supply, former Test leg-spinner MacGill told Mark Howard in part two of his Howie Games podcast he took responsibility for the “lapse of judgement’’ in introducing his drug dealer to his partner’s brother, Marino Sotiropoulos.
That duo, introduced by MacGill in the car park of his Sydney restaurant, went on to organise a $330,000 deal for one kilogram of cocaine.
MacGill was found not guilty by a Sydney court of taking part in a “major commercial’’ drug supply but guilty to the lesser charge of taking part in drug supply.
“The courts found I was involved to a greater degree than I believe … that’s a difference of opinion,’’ MacGill told Howard.
“The introduction is an offence, which I didn’t know. I never denied introducing them. And so I know I have made a fatal mistake there.
“Person A to Person B and they go on to do three or four deals. I (received) no money, no drugs. No benefit whatsoever out of it. Then, I would argue, it’s ruined a good part of my post cricket life.
“I introduced them because they had a common interest. But it was a lapse of judgement on my part. No doubt about that.’’
I’M NO ADDICT
The court heard MacGill spent $400 to $800 a week on cocaine but MacGill claims in the podcast he was never a drug addict but drank too much and often turned to drink as a result of addressing his high anxiety levels.
He confessed that he drank too much when he was a pupil at the Australian Cricket Academy trying to fit in with his peers.
“The first thing about drugs is I don’t really enjoy talking about it … people who stand on top of a table and say I’m doing X, Y and Z are dickheads.
“I was working in the restaurant, a good 70 hours a week, probably drinking too much. And the only way to keep going then is to sort of level the balance sheet a little bit.
“People say you are an addict. That’s just wrong. Doesn’t apply to me.
“If I was drinking I wanted to keep drinking. I like drinking. I think it’s quite a social mechanism. I think I could certainly drink a lot less than I do. That’s probably the core of the issue.
“When I went to the Australian Cricket Academy everybody’s drinking. (I would think) If I am not one of the boys already how am I going to be one of the boys?
“Well I’ll drink more than you. You might say that is absolute rubbish. I could have chosen to be an outlier all my life but it does make things very difficult. That’s what I did.’’
COMMUNITY SERVICE
MacGill was sentenced to 495 hours community service and admits it has been challenging.
“Community service is pretty much what you see on the TV. Sweep and pick up rubbish and shovel and that sort of stuff. It’s hard. I’m 54 with a dodgy back. It’s hard work but I am getting through it. I look at each day as if it is a challenge.
“I don’t want to do it but I’m doing it. So I might as well do it the best I can. I genuinely think most people should do community service in any case.
“There’s not a whole lot of talking. There are people from all different walks of life. There is definitely an awareness of what I used to do.
“I respect their privacy. The only difference between me and them is that it is quite easy for them to find out what I did wrong.
“I don’t ask what they have done because the whole thing about community service program is to rehabilitate, so give everybody the chance to move on.’’
STAYED INSIDE
After initially become a recluse before his court case MacGill is getting out more and hopes to find more coaching work and general employment.
“I stayed inside for a couple of years. I’d only go out at night-time so that people could not take pictures.There were camera people outside my house.
“I just decided I had to change something because I was bored out of my brain and that’s when I started coaching more.
”Realistically if there are two candidates (for a job) my balance sheet is slightly askew at the moment. I don’t want people to think I am a bad person. I don’t think there is a person alive who enjoys that feeling. I know I’m not. Nothing I have ever done was designed to hurt anybody else. It may have hurt me but I’ve never tried to impact negatively on anyone else … apart from batsmen.’’
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