Thomas and Darcy Rowe: Mid West footy brothers accused of punch up at The Foreshore bar last year face court

Two Mid West brothers — both well-known local footballers — are accused of getting into a punch-up brawl at a foreshore venue last year, before one of them threw his shoe at police. Thomas Maxwell John Rowe, 26, and his younger brother Darcy Robert Hugh Rowe, 21, faced Geraldton Magistrates Court last week for the first time over the allegations at The Foreshore Hangout Lounge. Thomas Rowe appeared from custody on Thursday charged with two counts each of disorderly behaviour, assault occasioning bodily harm and assaulting a public officer. Darcy Rowe also appeared in court charged with two counts each of assault occasioning bodily harm and disorderly behaviour in public. A talented footy family, Thomas Rowe plays in the GNFL for Railways while Darcy played in the WAFL reserves for Swan Districts last season. Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Paul White alleges the pair got into a brawl at The Foreshore Hangout Lounge about 10.40pm on December 23. It is alleged Thomas Rowe approached a man, who was talking to another person, with his fist clenched and shook it at him. The alleged victim then walked away into another area of the bar as both Thomas and Darcy Rowe allegedly taunted and tried to provoke him into a fight, the court was told. The Rowe brothers followed the man and Darcy Rowe is alleged to have thrown a drink at him before the brothers allegedly tackled him to the ground. It’s alleged they began punching him in the head, chest and ribs causing him to suffer bleeding from the nose, a black eye and bruising on his rib cage. Security split up the alleged altercation, the brothers were evicted from the premises and police were called. The brothers are then accused of returning after 11pm, when Thomas Rowe allegedly got into another physical altercation and an alleged victim was struck to the eye as they attempted to separate the two parties. It’s further alleged Darcy Rowe struck another man with a closed fist during the incident. The pair were chased by police and Thomas Rowe is accused of throwing his shoe at police as they fled and shouting “f... you”. They were later caught, arrested and taken to Geraldton Police Station. He was later arrested for breaching his bail conditions by consuming alcohol and remanded in custody. At this court appearance Thomas Rowe was again released on bail with a protective condition not to consume alcohol. He is also not allowed to enter licensed premises. He will reappear in court on February 9. “If he was sober, he wouldn’t be here,” defence lawyer Sabrina Maine said. Darcy Rowe’s bail was extended on the same terms, and he will reappear in court on February 9 as his lawyer seeks to obtain CCTV and body-worn camera footage of the alleged incidents.