Wife of man killed by single punch is sueing pub
Herald Sun
Angus Thompson
Janruary 19,2014
Wendy Keenan with a photo of her late husband Terry, who was killed after being punched in a pub at Tatura. Picture: Andy Brownbill
THE grieving wife of a man killed by a single punch is suing the pub where he was attacked.
Terry Keenan, 60, died in hospital after being hit by patron William Lovel during Mad Monday celebrations at the Tatura Hotel, in Victoria’s north, in October 2012.
Widow Wendy Keenan blames the pub for failing to stop Mr Lovel before the tragedy unfolded.
“The thought that Terry died by someone else’s hand is abhorrent to me. I just can’t believe it’s happened, and it shouldn’t happen,’’ she said.
A spokesman for the hotel said: “As the matter is now before the courts, we can’t make any comment.”
Mrs Keenan said her husband was at the hotel to support Goulburn Valley Football League players when Mr Lovel repeatedly flicked a tape measure in his face and groin.
Mr Keenan responded by punching Mr Lovel in the nose.
Mr Lovel then walked away before returning and, after a heated exchange, punched Mr Keenan in the head, causing him to hit the floor.
A jury cleared Mr Lovel of manslaughter following a trial in the Shepparton Supreme Court in 2013.
But in a writ filed to the Supreme Court Mrs Keenan accused the hotel of providing inadequate security and “encouraging patrons, including Lovel, to consume alcohol past the point of intoxication”.
Her lawyer, Maurice Blackburn principal Dimi Ioannou, said the hotel failed in its duty of care to protect Mr Keenan.
Mrs Keenan said she and Mr Keenan, a former VFL player and father of three, planned to retire together and continue fostering children.
But she claimed she was now coping with severe depression and unable to handle full-time work.
