Michael Shane Roskell involved in incident with security at Railway Hotel Yeppoon

Two patrons at a Central Queensland pub came up with a bizarre reason for why they could break the rules at the venue and proceeded to taunt security and staff.

A Central Queensland man and his mate stood behind an Indigenous Australians rant as to why they should not be kicked out of a pub for breaking the rules.

Michael Shane Roskell, 42, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on August 11 to failing to immediately leave a licensed premises and public nuisance within a licensed premises.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said Roskell’s offending happened on February 12 at Yeppoon’s Railway Hotel.

Sergeant Ongheen said a security officer conducted a “walk through” of the main bar area of the hotel about 9.10pm when she saw that Roskell had no shoes on.

The security officer informed Roskell that he needed to put his shoes on but Roskell ignored her, Sergeant Ongheen said.

“She told (Roskell) he needed to put his shoes on, otherwise he would be kicked out,” he said.

“He again ignored her, and another unknown male stepped between (Roskell) and (the security officer) and began yelling and ranting that they were Indigenous Australians and therefore didn’t need to wear shoes.

“The unknown male began to yell racial slurs towards the (security officer).”

Sergeant Ongheen said the security officer once again informed Roskell that he had to put shoes on, otherwise he would be removed from the premises.

Roskell refused and was asked to leave by the security officer.

“(Roskell) suddenly began to yell at her, saying ‘don’t touch me, you can’t touch me’ - she (security officer) attempted to move (Roskell) towards the exit, however (Roskell) began to use his body weight to pull himself in the opposite direction,” Sergeant Ongheen said.

The prosecutor said a duty manager then approached Roskell and also told him that he needed to leave the premises.

“He (Roskell) began yelling at that manager saying ‘you don’t tell me to get out of here, who the f--- do you think you are’.

“The manager informed (Roskell) that police were on their way.”

Michael Shane Roskell.

Sergeant Ongheen said two of Roskell’s friends then removed him from the premises and began walking away.

Police spoke to Roskell and he was subsequently charged.

The court heard that Roskell had no criminal history.

Roskell did have a traffic record having pleaded guilty in the Yeppoon court in April to a high-range drink-driving offence (.225).

Solicitor Ashley Reynolds said on the day of the offending, Roskell had been drinking at Great Keppel Island prior to going to the hotel, and one of the thongs he was wearing had broken.

Ms Reynolds said Roskell attempted to tape the thong up but it eventually “fell apart”.

She said Roskell had previously worked in the mines but he lost that job when he lost his driver’s licence.

Ms Reynolds said it was Roskell’s intention to return to the mines.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said alcohol had got Roskell “into a lot of problems” and he had carried on “like a young idiot would.”

She fined him $750 and no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Michael Shane Roskell involved in incident with security at Railway Hotel Yeppoon