- Magistrate Michael Barko released Aisling Cudden without conviction
- The Irish backpacker pleaded guilty on Wednesday to assaulting a police officer
- Mr Barko made headlines on Tuesday for ‘inappropriate’ comments about abuse
- Presided over the withdrawal of common assault charge against Lanz Priestley
- He dismissed the allegations as ‘something that happens in every second house’
A Sydney Magistrate who was slammed earlier this week for dismissing an alleged domestic assault has let off a backpacker who shoved a police officer at a Christmas Day brawl because ‘there’s nothing wrong with young people having a good time’.
Waverley Local Court Magistrate Michael Barko made headlines on Tuesday when he presided over a withdrawal of a common assault charge against former ‘Mayor of Martin Place’ Lanz Priestly.
Priestly had been charged with assaulting his former partner Nina Wilson by grabbing her and pushing her to the floor – but Magistrate Barko said his alleged actions were on ‘the lower end of the scale’ and described the physical contact as ‘something that happens in every second house’.
On Wednesday, Mr Barko released Irish backpacker Aisling Cudden without conviction after she pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, according to the Daily Telegraph.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Michael Barko released Irish backpacker Aisling Cudden (pictured) without conviction after she pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer
Mr Barko (left) described the push as ‘an instinctive-type reaction’ and told the court he knows young people ‘want to go somewhere they can drink heavily, listen to loud music and disturb the peace’ (pictured right is Cudden being arrested during the brawl)
Cudden was arrested on Christmas Day after residents complained about an uncontrollable party at Little Bay Beach, in Sydney’s east (pictured)
The 25-year-old was arrested on Christmas Day after residents complained about an uncontrollable party at Little Bay Beach, in Sydney’s east.
Violence erupted between partygoers and police began when officers tried to break up the celebration, which was being held in an alcohol-free zone.
Video footage shows some revellers throwing bottles in protest and Ms Cudden can be seen shoving an officer just moments before she was led away in handcuffs.
Violence erupted between partygoers and police began when officers tried to break up the celebration, which was being held in an alcohol-free zone (pictured)
Mr Barko described the push as ‘an instinctive-type reaction’ and told the court he knows young people ‘want to go somewhere they can drink heavily, listen to loud music and disturb the peace’.
‘There’s nothing wrong with young people having a drink … or a good time,’ he said, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Police Association president Scott Weber told the publication he hopes the decision is appealed.
Waverley Local Court Magistrate Michael Barko made headlines on Tuesday when he presided over a withdrawal of a common assault charge against former ‘Mayor of Martin Place’ Lanz Priestly (left), who was accused of pushing his former partner (right) to the ground