Father angry no one charged after son's death

Marlborough Express

MATT HEAGNEY: Died in August after an alleged altercation with a bouncer at a Blenheim bar.

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The family of a Blenheim man who died after an alleged altercation with a bouncer are distraught that no one has been charged more than two months after their son's death.

Matthew Heagney, 24, died several hours after sustaining severe head injuries outside Shapeshifters bar in central Blenheim about 2.40am on August 23.

His father, Pat Heagney, is livid that the man alleged to have thrown his son to the pavement where he struck his head - Shapeshifters' co-owner and bouncer, Kevin King - is still working at the bar.

In the absence of any charges yet being laid, Pat has travelled to Wellington to consult Sensing Murder psychic Sue Nicholson for answers about what happened to the son he describes as his best friend.

"Somebody's died outside a bar and nobody's been made accountable. That's not good enough," said Pat Heagney. "You don't go to the pub and suddenly you're dead outside. Matt didn't just trip over his big toe."

The popular rugby player – a former captain of the Marlborough Boys' College first XV – had gone into town to meet friends after a gathering at his house to welcome a new flatmate. He had called in at Shapeshifters to find his girlfriend, and had been in the bar less than 10 minutes when the alleged altercation took place as he was leaving.

Pat Heagney understood his son had been denied access to the bar when he initially tried to enter but had sneaked in behind the bouncer's back. He drank a beer, then decided to leave, and became involved in a confrontation on the way out.

Local man John Haronga was one of 140 witnesses, including two police officers, to have provided evidence about the circumstances of Matt's death; although it was early in the morning, Haronga had switched to drinking water at about 10pm and he believes his memory of events is clear.

He said a young bouncer had "mouthed off" at Heagney as he was leaving, and Heagney had retaliated by grabbing him. Haronga claims that King, who was also working the door, then put Heagney in a stranglehold from behind.

A scuffle ensued as King, the younger bouncer and a barmaid rushed Heagney outside. When they let him go, Heagney reacted by shoving King, who then allegedly "flipped" Heagney on to the footpath.

"The young fulla's feet went up and he landed on his head. It sounded like a sledgehammer on the concrete," said Haronga, who himself worked as a bouncer for 15 years. He believed the alleged actions were not called for.

Heagney died at Wairau Hospital several hours after the incident.

One local man reports seeing King acting overzealously with another patron previously. The man, who asked not to be named, claims he saw King "slam" a young man, carrying a stubbie of beer, to the ground, then pin him to the ground with his knee on his back after the man got "mouthy" outside the bar on Anzac Day.

Police arrested the youth and were disinterested when the man complained about King's heavy-handed actions. "It was like the cops thought it was just business as usual," he said.

King told the Sunday Star-Times he was involved in the incident with Heagney but said he was under legal advice not to comment. Told that another person had reported him overreacting to a patron, he said: "Oh really?"

The officer in charge of the investigation, Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan, said he had no comment. It is understood the file is being considered by a Christchurch officer who will determine whether charges should be laid against King.

Heagney was the second man to die in a confrontation with bouncers in Blenheim in four years. In July 2005, Cedric George Joyce died from asphyxiation outside the nearby Copper Bock bar while being restrained, face down, by bouncers.

Two security staff, James Neal and Malaki Mulitalo, were acquitted of manslaughter over Joyce's death.

More than 1000 people turned out for the funeral of Matt Heagney, the eldest of three siblings, who was a keen speedway racer and worked in the workshop of his family's transport business, having recently completed his apprenticeship.

"He was just a guy who was on the road to go places," said his father, who wants to see better standards of training for door staff to avoid a repeat of his son's death.

"Some of these bouncers are there to be he-men - that's not the attitude to have. The patrons - they're the people who keep your bar open.

"I know things get out of hand, but if you've got the right training in place you can handle it."

- © Fairfax NZ News