Court keeps name secret of brother of AFL star on drug driving charges

The teen brother of an AFL star has had his name suppressed over a drug driving incident after concerns were raised about how media reporting would affect his sibling’s mental health.

A 19-year-old, who cannot be named, faced a regional Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he was given a six-month good behaviour bond without conviction for driving a vehicle while cannabis was in his system. Picture: AAP

The brother of an AFL star has had his name suppressed over a drug driving incident after concerns were raised about how media reporting would affect his sibling’s mental health.

The 19-year-old, who cannot be named, faced a regional Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he was given a six-month good behaviour bond without conviction for driving a vehicle while cannabis was in his system.

The charge related to an incident in August last year.

The man’s name was suppressed by magistrate Tim Gattuso after his parents raised concerns about how media reporting would affect the mental health of his brother who plays in the AFL and was not involved in the incident.

Media lawyer Zander Croft, acting for the Herald Sun, challenged the suppression order, arguing it was inconsistent with the principles of open justice.

“Any suppression of any information derived from a proceeding is an infringement on the principle of open justice,” he said.

“It may be that only the name is the information that is suppressed, but that does impinge on the media’s ability to report on proceedings in court and connect their readers with the happenings of what is going on in court.”

Mr Gattuso said he took a “cautious approach” in granting the order, noting the concerns raised by the parents.

He initially granted a proceeding suppression order set to expire in 2030 but varied it to an interim order following submissions from Herald Sun lawyers.

The matter will return to court next month for further argument.

The names of several high-profile people accused of serious criminal offences are currently suppressed after they argued media reporting would negatively affect their mental health.

In December, the Herald Sun revealed a prominent Melbourne man had been committed to stand trial for the rape of a woman.

He was charged with two counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape in August 2023.

The media was barred from reporting any details of the case until the order was partially lifted, though restrictions still prevent naming the accused.

Another well-known figure was charged with rape following an alleged incident in Geelong.

His identity was also suppressed on mental health grounds.

However, the Herald Sun was later able to name his co-accused, media marketer Patrick Sinnott, after a suppression order on his case was lifted in April.

A third case involving another high-profile figure is also before the courts but the Herald Sun is unable to reveal further details.

A current politician involved in a case before the Victorian Magistrates’ Court also had their identity suppressed because of the effect on their mental health

Originally published as Court keeps name secret of brother of AFL star on drug driving charges