Four Sydney Swans players will face no criminal charges over an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman Hotel – but a lawyer for a stripper at the centre of the investigation has said the fight is far from over, with a civil claim still being pursued.
Victoria Police announced on Friday that they will not proceed with charges due to insufficient evidence, based on legal advice.
A police spokesperson added they were unable to comment further due to ongoing civil proceedings.
The lawyer for one of the three women involved in the alleged incident issued a statement saying his client was ‘devastated’ by the police outcome and that the matter was far from over.
‘She reported the incident immediately, provided a formal statement and cooperated fully with the investigation,’ Slater and Gordon senior lawyer Jackson Pannam said.
‘She has shown enormous courage in coming forward.
‘The decision by Victoria Police does not amount to a finding that the incident our client reported did not occur, nor does it diminish the seriousness of what she says happened or its profound impact on her.
‘The absence of criminal charges does not prevent a civil claim from proceeding.’
Police will not lay charges against Sydney Swans players Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and former teammate Nick Blakey as part of their investigation into an alleged incident in Melbourne
The lawyer of a stripper at the centre of the investigation has said the legal action is not over
James Jordon, Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey (all pictured), along with Chad Warner, will not face criminal charges due to insufficient evidence
Mr Pannam said Slater and Gordon Lawyers is ‘continuing to prepare a civil claim against the relevant parties and will continue to support our client through this extremely difficult time’.
Swans star Isaac Heeney was the first player to speak publicly and said he welcomed the police update.
‘The past three months have been incredibly difficult for my family, Steffie and those close to me. Watching my family carry the weight of this has been heartbreaking,’ he said in a statement.
‘To my family and friends, your love and loyalty [have] meant more than words can do justice.
‘To those that have never doubted me and stood by my side in solidarity – thank you. I know it has not been easy in the face of such intense public scrutiny. I will never forget your support.
‘To the entire Sydney Swans Club – my teammates, coaches, the board, our sponsors, and our loyal members and fans – thank you for keeping faith in me.
‘The Swans have given me an opportunity to live out a childhood dream and I am fully focused on repaying that faith by being the best person and player I can be.’
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich addressed the media on Friday afternoon, where he indicated that the suspended players, apart from Nick Blakey who has since left the club, will soon return.
Swans star Isaac Heeney pays tribute to ex-fiancée Steffie Waters in a statement on Friday
Blakey, who has since left the Swans to join North Melbourne, was spotted at pre-season training on Friday, being embraced by Kangaroos coach Jaymie Graham
Chad Warner (pictured right with Heeney) was also named in the investigation into the alleged sexual assault
‘We’ve been in constant contact with the players through the whole process and I think they realise that today is a moment for them to move forward. Time for everyone to move forward,’ Pavlich said.
‘At some point they’ll be back here at training and back in with their teammates and that’s going to be an important step.’
He admitted that the details of the players’ reintegration back into the club and when they will return to pre-season training had not been finalised.
‘Today is about the Victoria Police investigation and the fact that they’ve finalised that. Any future aspects, we’ll deal with that as it comes,’ Pavlich said.
An internal review of the Swans’ men’s football program and its culture is in its advanced stages.
‘This is not a day for anyone to really celebrate. We’re still looking very hard at the program and understanding, where we need to get better for the future and examining that in really thorough detail,’ Pavlich said.
‘We have the help of some independent advisors and we are hopeful that that will be finalised by the end of the year, with some really important changes and recommendations to that program.
‘It’s been a really difficult period for our football club and the players involved, their families, our staff, fans, members, and corporate partners, and we appreciate and understand that everyone has been dealing with it in their own way and we thank them for their support during that time.
Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich addressed the media in a five-minute press conference
‘We’ve got some strong foundations for the future and today is at least an opportunity to think about that future and start stepping forward.’
Pavlich stood by the club’s decision to stand down Heeney, Blakey, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Chad Warner in August due to their conduct falling short of behaviour standards expected at the club.
Bice was later cleared by police and was subsequently treated only as a witness in the investigation.
He ended the five-minute press conference after he was asked whether the club had received correspondence from the lawyers of the women who have launched civil action.
‘Can we deal with today first and we’ll move on at some point once we learn more information on those matters?’ Pavlich said.
Blakey, who has since left the Swans to join North Melbourne, was spotted at preseason training on Friday being embraced by Kangaroos coach Jaymie Graham.
The lawyer for the other two women is also pressing ahead with civil claims.
‘Criminal prosecution has a very high standard of burden of proof that is beyond a reasonable doubt,’ John Karantzis from Carbone Lawyers told The Age.
Victoria Police previously said it was investigating allegations women were assaulted in a room at the Pullman East Melbourne Hotel in the early hours of August 17
Isaac Heeney has spent the last three months keeping a low profile at his home in Maroubra
‘My clients’ claims are on a different standard. It is a civil claim for personal injury and as such the standard is on the balance of probabilities. Our clients will vigorously fight and proceed with their claims.’
The three dancers have filed police complaints, alleging they were sexually assaulted at the hotel in Melbourne.
Heeney and his fiancée Steffie Waters called off their engagement after the Pullman Hotel incident.
Ms Waters left the couple’s $4million Maroubra home, travelling interstate to Noosa to avoid the media storm before heading to the US for a holiday.
Heeney, 30, has kept a low profile back home in Maroubra, where he reportedly spent weeks trying to save their relationship and kept in regular contact with Ms Waters in the hope she would come around.
But after weeks of soul-searching, friends said, Ms Waters could not forgive him.
Amid the stress of the allegations, Heeney has also been seen visiting a Thai massage parlour and going to the beach.
Heeney also travelled to Hong Kong earlier this month, where he cheered his horse Brownneedsfurther to victory at Happy Valley racecourse before posing for a photo with winning jockey Zac Purton.
The Daily Mail makes no suggestion that Heeney acted unlawfully, only that Ms Waters viewed his partying with dancers as a breach of trust in their relationship.
Heeney, Warner, Bice and Jordon are expected to return to the Swans for pre-season training in the coming weeks.
Blakey has since left the Swans and joined North Melbourne on a $12million eight-season contract.
Last week, lawyers acting for two of the three women at the centre of the alleged incident sent letters regarding potential civil action to players, the club and a former player.
Heeney, Warner, Blakey and Bice were reportedly sent the documents, along with retired teammate Taylor Adams, who is not under police investigation.
The letter sent to the club claimed it bore some responsibility for the alleged conduct as the players’ employer.
