South West business owner Benjamin Lawrence Byrne-Quinn denies using car to pin two women against pub wall

A South West business owner has denied he used his car to drunkenly pin two women against the brick wall of a Collie pub until it eventually caved in. Benjamin Lawrence Byrne-Quinn, 33, appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court this morning where he pleaded not guilty to a string of driving offences stemming from an alleged incident in Collie where two women were almost killed. It was alleged Mr Byrne-Quinn was drinking with a co-worker at the Crown Hotel in Collie on October 15 and was involved in a minor altercation with another man, before taking part in verbal and physical altercations outside. He was alleged to have driven off in a Toyota Hilux ute, when he paused outside the venue and reversed into the crowd of patrons causing them to flee. Two victims, Georgia Moloney and Alexis Tate, who were unable to move in time, were allegedly struck by the car and pushed through the double brick wall. Ms Moloney is still recovering from the alleged incident in a stable condition in rehab, while Ms Tate was taken to hospital at the time and was discharged after about a week. It was further alleged Mr Byrne-Quinn also damaged a nearby ATM machine during the alleged crash and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.138 at the time. Mr Byrne-Quinn, who had his bail extended, is next due to appear in Bunbury District Court for a trial listing hearing on August 4 for two of his charges, while the remaining matters were adjourned to September 6. He is charged with two counts of unlawful act or omission with intent to harm, failing to stop and ensure assistance after an incident, failing to report an incident in which property was damaged, exceeding 0.08g of alcohol per 100ml of blood, driving with prescribed illicit drug in oral fluid or blood and criminal damage or destruction of property.