A footy legend has been convicted of assault after he brutally punched a fellow retiree in a pub fight over penalty rates and Donald Trump.
Former Dragons player Warren Ryan, 75, said he felt ‘threatened’ by 76-year-old Edward Purcell before their argument turned physical at a Maroubra hotel, east Sydney, in November, 2016.
In shocking CCTV footage tendered to the court on Monday, Ryan was seen walking around a table before shoving Purcell backwards, causing him to fall to the floor.
In shocking CCTV footage tendered to the court, Ryan was seen walking around a table before shoving Purcell backwards, causing him to fall to the floor
Purcell was seen lying on the ground with his legs in the air as Ryan kicked him in the back.
Police prosecutor Chris Davis described the incident as a ‘vicious attack’, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘I know they are the same age, but the years have not been as kind to Mr Purcell. He looks elderly as he goes down,’ Mr Davis told the court.
Ryan was given a 12-month good behaviour bond at Waverley Local Court on Monday following the altercation at a Maroubra hotel in November, 2016.
Purcell told the court he and Ryan were arguing about Donald Trump’s election as US president, but a witness, Chris, told the court the pair were clashing over penalty rates.
Police prosecutor Chris Davis described the pub fight (Ryan pictured standing over Purcell) as a ‘vicious attack’
Purcell was seen lying on the ground with his legs in the air as Ryan kicked him in the back
‘It turned personal and nasty,’ Ryan told Constable Bryant Russell three weeks after the fight, The Daily Telegraph reported.
In sentencing Ryan on Monday, Magistrate John Bailey said Ryan appeared to be the aggressor in the fight.
‘The victim was not aggressive when he got up, he was clearly elderly and injured,’ Magistrate Bailey said.
Ryan, a former rugby league player and coach, also worked as a commentator on ABC radio.
He resigned from his radio gig in 2014 after allegations he made a racist remark on air.
‘The victim was not aggressive when he got up, he was clearly elderly and injured,’ Magistrate Bailey said about the fight (Purcell pictured lying on the ground with his legs in the air as Ryan stands above him)