Two very different versions of events emerge as to what really happened when former AFL star Wayne Carey was booted out of a Perth casino after dropping a bag of white powder and “banknotes” on a gaming table.
The Crown Resorts boss has contradicted several of Carey’s claims following the embarrassing incident and told Perth Radio on Thursday there was no evidence he told casino staff the white powder was a legitimate drug to treat old football injuries.
Ciaran Carruthers, who has only been at the top job for three days, also said the football star-turned-TV commentator was not honest about where he spent that night and later tried to sneak back into his room.
The casino will hand over its CCTV footage of the incident to the police as a mystery surrounding the remains of the powder bag is at the heart of the scandal.
Carey will address hundreds of locals during a “Nothing Off Limits” discussion on Thursday night about his hometown of Wagga Wagga.
Wayne Carey (left) will address the residents of Wagga Wagga at a Nothing Off Limits discussion tonight
Wayne Carey has offered a ‘nothing is off-limits’ interview at a speaking event scheduled for Thursday night in Wagga Wagga
Wayne Carey strolled alone along St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Wednesday. He’ll be at Wagga Wagga on Thursday night, where people expect to see that bag of white powder
Mr Carruthers told Perth Radio 6PR on Thursday that highly trained staff had been keeping an eye on Carey in the run-up to the incident.
He said his staff had no authority to remove the powder pouch, which Carey immediately put back in his pocket.
“When the package fell on the table, the gaming staff noticed it immediately. Mr Carey recovered it, put it back in his pocket and left the table,” he told host Liam Bartlett.
‘He kept it, and besides, I have no idea what happened to it. He picked it up from the table, put it back on his body and then walked on.’
The casino staff’s version strongly contradicts that of Carey, who earlier this week told his employer The Age he had told staff the powder was a legitimate drug.
“It wasn’t an illegal substance, it was offered for security. Security didn’t take it,’ Carey said.
“They just said it didn’t look good, I understood that, and we left without incident.”
Mr Carruthers dismissed Carey’s story.
“This contradicts statements we received from our own staff and from witnesses who were there at the time,” he said.
The casino boss also said Carey misled staff as to where he was staying that night and was caught sneaking back into his room.
“He informed our team that he was not a guest of the hotel and we subsequently discovered that he was not and he was staying in one of the hotel rooms,” Mr Carruthers said.
“Our team then approached him in his room and told him that he had to vacate it. He cooperated. He asked for some time to collect his belongings, which we gave him and walked away from the property…up to that point, according to the statements we have, he had not been telling the truth.’
Wayne Carey and partner Jessica Paulke arrive at the Fashion Aid Twilight Beach Polo on February 16, 2018
Waynes Carey’s mug shot after the star stood before a Miami court charged with assaulting a police officer when he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in 2007
Like every casino around the world, Crown is covered in surveillance cameras taking footage that Mr Carruthers said would be turned over to Western Australia Police.
Mr Carruthers said Carey’s “suspicious” behavior was treated by staff as if he were any other ordinary player.
‘You didn’t know it was Mr Carey. They just thought it was a customer who was shopping for chips back in the day. They noticed that the package fell out along with the banknotes and they informed their game master,” he said.
“I wish the police had been called…absolutely. And I can tell you now that this is the process now. I totally agree with the Police Commissioner,” Mr Carruthers said.
While Crown employees who dealt with Carey last week followed company policy, that policy was quickly amended to ensure police are called now if such an event was likely to happen again.
“Any activity deemed suspicious, any activity deemed inappropriate by officers, my team has full obligation and full authority to remove individuals from the property,” Mr Carruthers said.
“It would have been a lot easier to deal with if the police had been called – in my 30+ years in this industry my expectation is very high, I insist that if there is any suspicion of illegal activity we get in touch immediately.” authorities.’
Wayne Carey (right) was a legend of the game while playing for North Melbourne. He disgraced himself and was forced to leave the club when he was caught in a toilet with a team-mate’s wife
Wayne Carey is keen to stick with a media appearance with Channel 7, where he continues to make big bucks
Wayne Carey tried to reinvent himself once again while appearing on Celebrity SAS Australia (pictured).
It was revealed on Wednesday that Carey had enlisted the services of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers’ Josh Bornstein to investigate a possible “disability discrimination claim” against the gaming giant after it was booted.
It came after Channel 7 and Radio Triple M both suspended Carey from his media appearances.
“Mr Carey is being prescribed anti-inflammatory and painkilling medication to help manage the significant pain caused by debilitating football injuries – including a shoulder that requires replacement and a neck injury that requires three disc replacements,” Mr Bornstein said.
“We are investigating whether Crown Casino unlawfully discriminated against Mr Carey by excluding him from its premises due to a pre-existing disability.”
Mr Carruthers said Carey had not indicated he had any disability at the time.
“There was no discrimination … we could not have been aware, even if it were true, that there was a health issue,” he said.
Well-placed sources have told Daily Mail Australia that Carey went to solicitors before even asking Crown for an apology – one of which he was unlikely to receive.
Legal experts go on to claim that Carey would need to provide solid evidence of his alleged disability to have any chance of success should the matter go to court in the unlikely event.
“If he wants to claim a disability, he has to show that he has the disability, that he has been prescribed this medication for it and that it has to be taken in powder form, and then he would need a signed affidavit from a doctor stating all this is stated.” said the expert.
Wayne Carey arrives in Perth on September 5th.
Carey is expected to reveal what happened in Perth at the Good Blokes Society event to be held tonight at Wagga Wagga RSL, the Herald Sun reported.
The group’s founder, Shaun Wallis, said Carey will discuss what transpired in Perth at the gathering, which is open to the public.
“Wayne was invited to come as a guest and he pounced on it, there’s no doubt Wayne will address it (the incident),” Wallis told the publication.
“I’ve had a few conversations with him personally and he’s working through the alleged incident.
“We are here to support Wayne as much as he needs support.”
Promotional material for the event says there will be a “nothing is off limits” interview with an AFL great – Wayne Carey.
Tickets for the event – which sell for up to $250 a piece – have sold out and about 110 people will be in attendance.
Carey will reportedly leave Melbourne on Thursday to attend the event, which begins at 6.30pm.
“If Wayne has issues or demons, the Good Blokes Society is the perfect community and the community events we host encourage storytelling and conversation and raise your hand if you have issues or problems,” said Mr. Wallis.
“We’re a support group, so we offer whatever we need to offer, whether it’s a handshake or a cuddle or an ear to listen.”
