Village Bicycle owner Renee Lee Dunne fronts Noosa Magistrates Court

The owner of a popular Noosa bar has faced court for assaulting cops, claiming she was “hysterical” after seeing her partner get knocked out during an early-hours attack.

Renee Lee Dunne outside the Noosa Courthouse on November 8.

The owner of a popular Noosa bar has appeared in court for slapping a police officer and “screaming and swearing” by the roadside after claiming her partner was set upon by another group.

Renee Lee Dunne appeared in the Noosa Magistrates Court on November 8 charged with assaulting a police officer and public nuisance in a licensed premises, pleading guilty to both charges.

Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said police were driving on Sunshine Beach Rd when they noticed the 44-year-old woman “screaming and swearing loudly” about 2.30am on September 25.

Sergeant Stephens said the Peregian Beach woman was with her husband and when police stopped their vehicle, Dunne walked past the police continuing to swear and scream at them although she was asked to calm down.

The court was told officers could smell alcohol and Dunne was slurring her words and unsteady on her feet.

Renee Lee Dunne outside the Noosa Courthouse.

The police prosecutor said the man with Dunne “appeared to try and placate her” and officers raised their voice to ask her to calm down again.

Sergeant Stephens said Dunne then “slapped” one of the officers in the face with an open right hand and was arrested.

“She stated she was the owner of the Village Bicycle licensed premises,” he said.

The court was told the couple had finished a shift at the bar and was walking home when the man had got into “an altercation” with another group but officers could not see anyone else in the area.

Sergeant Stephens said Dunne, who drank about five beers after her shift, screamed during the incident that her husband “just got f-----g attacked by a 60-year-old” and told police to “shut up”.

The Village Bicycle. Picture: Google Maps

Lawyer Bernard Bradley said police officers came upon the aftermath of a “fairly vicious assault” upon the man when they pulled over to the couple.

The lawyer said the couple had finished their shift at the bar in Noosa Junction and the man was “assaulted without provocation” and Dunne was screaming at the police to stop.

“I’ve seen the photos, he’s got black eyes etc, and he was actually knocked unconscious but by the time police came across this scene... he was now conscious,” Mr Bradley said.

The lawyer said Dunne had described her own demeanour as “hysterical” because of what she had witnessed and she perceived police officers were not “taking seriously” her complaint of the assault.

Mr Bradley said the behaviour was “completely out of character” and Dunne had no previous history.

The lawyer said she was a licence holder over a licenced premises and a conviction would have a “deleterious” effect on her employment.

Acting Magistrate Graham Hillan fined Dunne $600 and a conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Village Bicycle owner Renee Lee Dunne fronts Noosa Magistrates Court