The Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, has made a public statement on his mayoral Facebook page in response to the publication of a court date for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) hearing and a criminal listing at the Tweed Heads courthouse.
The AVO hearing was originally listed to be heard at the Byron Bay Court and the criminal matter at the Tweed Heads Court. They are now both listed at the Tweed Heads Court for later this month.
The two domestic violence charges have been confirmed by the court as assault and stalking/intimidation.
According to the Daily Telegraph Cr Lyon was arrested at the Tweed Heads Police Station the day after the incident.
Shrinking ticket
A statement earlier this week from running mate Mark Swivel, announced via social media, stated that he would be pulling out of the Byron Independents’ team.
Lyon’s running mate Dr Meredith Wray has also confirmed with The Echo that she will not be running on the Independents team and has withdrawn ‘as a candidate for the Byron Shire elections’.
Former Byron Shire councillor Jeannette Martin is still running. The final remaining member of Lyon’s Byron Independents ticket has told The Echo, ‘I support Michael 100 per cent and I will remain on the Byron Independents ticket’
‘I abhor violence’
Cr Lyon said, due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’, the Byron Independents may not run a group at the Council elections, a final decision on this will be made before Wednesday 14 August.
‘I have also not made any decision on whether I will run again for Mayor.
‘At the heart of this matter is a misunderstanding that I hope will be cleared up as quickly as possible so that my name can be cleared and that my family can move back out of the public eye and receive the love and attention they need.
‘I abhor violence in all its forms and respect the need for the strong processes that are in place to protect the safety of people in the home.’
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