Source : Perth Now news
Two women at the centre of an investigation involving five players from the Sydney Swans AFL club were subjected to “abhorrent” actions, their lawyer alleges.
John Karantzis, acting for two of the three women involved, says more than five men were in the hotel room and accuses Swans hierarchy of not yet being fully transparent.
Sydney banned five players — Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon — for the rest of the AFL season for breaching club standards at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel on Monday morning.
Victoria Police Sex Crimes Squad detectives are investigating. No charges have been laid.
Mr Karantzis said more than five men were in the room but refused to comment when asked if coaches were present.
“It’s more than five, that’s for sure,” he told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Friday.
Swans coach Dean Cox said at a press conference on Friday that he was unaware of the claim that more men were involved but the club was working with police to determine the details.
Mr Karantzis said the two women he represented were in hiding and fearing for their life.
“With what has been alleged, these women were subjected to the most disgusting actions and behaviour I have ever heard about in my 28 years as a lawyer,” he said.
“These women already had a difficult job.
“And what they were subjected to, it is alleged, was demeaning, abhorrent and simply not moral or acceptable.”
Mr Karantzis, asked if the club hadn’t yet been fully transparent, replied: “That is my understanding.
“I have got a lot of sympathy for these women,” he said.
“They’ve got a difficult job. And to be humiliated and degraded in this way, it’s just not on, not acceptable.”
Mr Karantzis couldn’t detail specifics, citing the ongoing investigation which he said would take some time to complete.
“The line was crossed and unfortunately, what they’ve been subjected to … I literally cannot say it on the radio,” he said.
“They (the two women he represents) are suffering severe stress and anxiety. They’re actually fearing for their life at the moment.
“The events and behaviours that they were subjected to, these women feel like it’s enough is enough, but they do want justice. They want their voice to be heard.”
Public statements from Swans hierarchy had failed to include a direct apology to the women, the lawyer said.
“An apology would be a good start … and really, probably full transparency as to who was involved and what occurred,” he said.
Mr Karantzis expected further action from the AFL, which described the club-imposed suspension of the five Swans players as “approproiate”.
“I’m sure once the AFL is fully apprised of what happened, and that may be through the court process … or through their own investigations, the AFL would make make the appropriate sanctions,” he said.
The AFL’s integrity unit is staging its own investigation.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
