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Subscriber only A NORTHERN Rivers man charged with breaching a public health order will contest the allegation against him in a hearing next year. Byangum man Shay McRae, 45, had earlier pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a Public Health Order. But when he faced Byron Bay Local Court on Monday this charge was withdrawn and replaced with an allegation of failing to comply with a requirement of the Public Health COVID-19 directions by being in an unlawful assembly of more than 20 people. Mr McRae has now pleaded not guilty to this new allegation, which relates to the same alleged act but falls under a different section of the Public Health Act.
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A NORTH Coast man who tried to buy an illegal firearm from an undercover police officer has been sentenced.
Kingscliff man Anthony Charles Finocchiaro, 45, was arrested outside a Byron Bay hardware store on July 19 this year.
According to court documents, Finocchiaro engaged in communications through an online platform using cryptocurrency and made arrangements for the purchase of a Glock pistol.
But the person he was speaking with was an undercover police officer.
Court documents, revealed police felt there was a “low level of sophistication” in the way Finocchiaro used the online platform, in that he provided his full name and address, email address, a photo of himself and his driver’s licence to purchase bitcoins as part of the arrangement.