D'arcy To Face New Allegation Of Assault On Ironman
The Age
Thursday April 3, 2008
A SECOND athlete has come forward with claims he was attacked by embattled Olympic swimmer Nick D'Arcy.
Queensland ironman Tim Peach told Channel Nine yesterday he was left with a broken nose and two black eyes after an altercation with D'Arcy outside a Mooloolaba bar in August 2006 but he refused to press charges. D'Arcy issued a statement yesterday saying his alleged assault last Sunday on former swimmer Simon Cowley was an "unfortunate isolated incident which occurred at the Loft Bar". In part it reads: "Although I have been charged, the NSW police investigation is still under way, and is in its early stages. The NSW police are yet to obtain statements from a number of witnesses to the incident. "I deeply regret my involvement in this incident and the injury occasioned to Simon Cowley." Peach is believed to be in Perth to compete in the Australian surf lifesaving championships, which D'Arcy is attending to watch his younger brother. The latest claim, which the Australian Olympic Committee is reportedly looking into, comes as legendary Australian swimming coach Forbes Carlisle called for the hysteria surrounding the D'Arcy incident with Cowley to cease immediately and for D'Arcy to remain in the Olympic team. Carlisle, who was the first mentor of Shane Gould, says if D'Arcy's case has not ended by the time the team heads to Beijing, he should not be stopped from attending the Games. Carlisle said yesterday the AOC and Swimming Australia "cannot prematurely spring open the trap door on young D'Arcy". "Once you make this decision, you can't take it back. I think it would be absolutely terrible for them to act before the matter is decided in a court. The stupidity of this is that at the moment we're only going by what newspaper reports have said on the matter, and some organisations are in a frenzy about it. "The case against him is by no means cut and dried, and D'Arcy's 'crime', although having horrendous consequences, hardly deserves the extreme penalty which a hysterical few are demanding. "If it hasn't been looked after in the courts by August, let him go to the Olympics and we'll look after it afterwards. We have to let justice take its course, not get caught up in the hysteria and frenzy out there now. We must wait and see when the truth comes out about what really happened." Cowley's father, Peter, confirmed yesterday his son would have surgery later this week to mend the injuries to his broken jaw, broken nose, fractured eye socket, crushed cheekbone and fractured palate. He also confirmed his son had travelled to the Rocks police station in Sydney on Tuesday to give his formal statement. D'Arcy said yesterday he did not want to be tried in the media. "There have been conflicting media reports surrounding this incident. I, like all individuals, am entitled to a fair trial and due process through the judicial system." I do not therefore wish to become embroiled in a trial by media where public opinion is seen to take precedence over the judicial system."
© 2008 The Age
