By Andrew Starke
Justin Hemmes is ‘appalled and sickened’ by last weekend’s assault on a patron by bouncers at his Ivy nightclub and has committed to a full review of security operations.
The Merivale Group successfully challenged a 72-hour closure order sought by police on Monday (Aug 29) but the Supreme Court tightened licensing conditions on the popular central Sydney nightspot.
Three new terms have been written into the hotel’s liquor licence, meaning management will have to: change the security company it employs at its George Street premises; ensure security guards are clearly identified with visible numbers; and provide access to crime scenes.
This final point may yet cause Hemmes more consternation as police allege they were diverted from the crime scene and this may have been done deliberately.
According to court documents, the first police officers on the scene were sent down Ash Street by security who stated that the offenders had run in that direction.
Some of the assault on 19-year-old Nicholas Barsoum is believed to have been captured by CCTV.
Ivy security guard Emmanouil Ntaras has been granted bail with strict conditions while two other security guards set to face court in September.
In a statement, Hemmes told TheShout that the security guards in question had been dismissed and a full review of security was underway.
“The kind of behavior that occurred at Ivy has no place in my business and the venues for which we are responsible,” Hemmes said, adding that he and senior management were fully co-operating with police.
The Rocks Local Area Commander, Superintendent Garry O’Dell, said the incident was unsavoury, completely unacceptable and remained under investigation.
“The decision in the NSW Supreme Court to tighten the hotel’s licensing conditions vindicates the strong stance taken by police,” he said.
Strike Force Goldsworthy, comprising The Rocks detectives and specialist officers from Central Metropolitan Region, has been formed to examine the full circumstances of the incident.