He is believed to be suing Mr Newman over comments that lawyers were “hired guns’’ for bikies and “part of the criminal gang machine’’.
“These people (lawyers) are hired guns They take money from people who sell drugs to our teenagers and young people,’’ Mr Newman said earlier this month in comments that enraged the legal profession.
“Yes, everybody’s got a right to be defended under the law but you’ve got to see it for what it is: they are part of the machine, part of the criminal gang machine, and they will see, say and do anything to defend their clients, and try and get them off and indeed progress ... their dishonest case.’’
Lawyer Chris Hannay (right) with
Bandido Jacques Teamo. Mr Hannay has announced he is suing Campbell
Newman for defamation. File image: Richard Gosling
Mr Hannay immediately flagged legal action, saying he was consulting a Queen’s Counsel.
He blasted Mr Newman’s comments as “repulsive ... political dribble’’.
“To denigrate the criminal law profession and in particular, my law firm, with baseless and unsubstantiated allegations does nothing to assist to resolve the issues concerning the highly controversial anti-association laws implemented by the premier,” Mr Hannay said at the time.
Premier Campbell Newman’s comemn ts angered many in the legal profession. File image: Darren England.
Mr Hannay has retained Gold Coast litigation specialist Jeff Horsey to prosecute the premier.
Last week, the Australian Lawyers Alliance called on solicitors to defend their profession against Mr Newman’s attack.
Teamo, a former senior Bandidos bikie gang member, is accused of instigating the brawl at Broadbeach last September which led to the Newman Government’s tough anti-bikie laws.
