Cal Meagher, Carl Hughes sentenced for role in bar brawl in Geelong CBD

Two men have been convicted over a bashing and brawl sparked by a dancefloor approach.

Cal Meagher.

A man’s attempt to woo a woman on a Geelong dancefloor sparked a bashing and all-in brawl at a city night spot.

Cal Meagher, 33 and Carl Hughes, 31, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday to charges of affray, recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault and assault in company.

Hughes and Meagher and another co-accused, Thomas Deutschbein, were at Beav’s Bar in Geelong’s CBD on March 18 last year.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie-Ann Moroney said the victim had made advances towards one of the accused’s partners on the dancefloor shortly before midnight.

The court heard Meagher punched the victim several times and both men were escorted outside.

Constable Moroney said an all-in brawl then took place outside the bar between Hughes, Meagher and Deutschbein as well as other victims, which involved punches, headlocks and some kicking.

“It’s clear there are three males engaging in a fight. They are all acting together, one puts someone in a headlock, someone is kicking, someone is punching,” Constable Moroney said.

Magistrate Franz Holzer said the incident was “unseemly” and “unwanted” in the CBD.

“This is an issue where someone has overstepped the line. I think it’s fair to say the reaction of all accused has been disproportionate and probably unnecessary to some extent,” Mr Holzer said.

Hughes’ lawyer said his client was not drunk at the time of the offence, and his response to the incident was “out of character”.

“Police accept something has occurred in the club, and there has been a reaction to that.

“He accepts his response is completely disproportionate and unacceptable. It’s fortunate the injuries were not more severe”.

Mr Holzer said it was time such violent behaviour came to an end.

“People are sick of it in these communities to see these kinds of interactions explode and to expand in a way that is totally unnecessary and totally anti-social,” he said.

Meagher and Hughes were both convicted and sentenced to 12-month community correction orders.

Deutschbein also received the same sentence at an earlier date.

Originally published as Cal Meagher, Carl Hughes sentenced for role in bar brawl in Geelong CBD