Ironman barred from pool says he is denied natural justice

By ERWIN CHLANDA
 
The ironman barred from the town pool for – as he says – spurious reasons says he’s not been given a proper process to defend himself.
 
The council has not disclosed to him “an orchestrated series of … letters and complaints filed against me that I was not offered to view or hear,” says Kevin Coyle (pictured) on his website.
 
He says he was offered exclusive use off the pool from 5am to 6am Tuesday to Friday but this is unsuitable for a variety of reasons, “the most important one being the additional physical stress my body would receive from waking up this early before flying for 22 hours to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Friday.
 
Council CEO Rex Mooney said in a written statement this morning: “Kevin has also been extended the offer of attending a meeting upon his return to Alice Springs, to discuss his participation the Masters Games and ensuring suitable arrangements, in keeping with Alice Springs Town Council’s protocols and guidelines.
 
“After that time, the formal trespass notice will be upheld for the duration of six months until March 9, 2017.”
 
Says Mr Coyle: “They also offered me the chance to compete at the Alice Springs Masters Games triathlon, an event I won two years ago and had signed up for in early September before I knew there was any issue with me at the Town Pool.
 
“Then, they said the trespassing ban would remain in place which meant that I would have no use of the indoor 25m pool or outdoor 50m pool at the [pool] until March 9, 2017.
 
“It would also mean that I could not compete in any triathlon held in town since they are held at the pool. So that means for two weeks leading up to Kona I will have no use of the public pool.”
 
Mr Coyle, who says on his website he received the notification from council CEO Rex Mooney and community services director Skye Price, is scathing about the process: “Where I come from we have a judicial system that is based upon innocence until proven guilty.
 
“There is a prosecution and a defence, something I was never given the opportunity to have in any emails, phone conversations, or face to face discussions.”
 
He says the many positive character references he presented “seem to have accomplished nothing other than Rex and Skye knowing the exact reasons and people behind this bullying and attack campaign that has lasted for more than a year”.
 
The Alice Springs News Online has requested further comment from the town council.