Attorneys representing Hannah Thomas are initiating a civil lawsuit against NSW Police following a severe eye injury the former Greens candidate sustained during an anti-Israel demonstration in Sydney last month. 

Thomas — who was a candidate against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Grayndler — incurred the injury on June 27 while being detained by police along with four others outside SEC Plating, a business in Belmore allegedly supplying plating for F-35 jets used by the Israeli Defence Force.

After her arrest, Thomas was informed she might permanently lose sight in her right eye, and police retracted the seldom-used anti-riot charge against her, known as 6A, which was initially enacted following the 2005 Cronulla riots. 

Now, Thomas’ attorney Peter O’Brien is demanding all charges against her be dismissed and confirmed the filing of a civil lawsuit asserting she was “the victim of unwarranted police violence and excessive force” during her arrest. 

“Our firm has received instructions to proceed with a civil compensation claim against the state of NSW for the conduct of the NSW Police officers involved in her apprehension, injury, detention, and prosecution,” O’Brien informed The Sydney Morning Herald.

“The torts likely to be pursued against the state include assault and battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, and collateral abuse of process.”

The initiation of a civil case follows SMH's report, citing “multiple sources” indicating Thomas “was punched by an officer during her arrest”, with the publication claiming to have disclosed body-cam footage contradicting police statements post-protest.

Thomas’ legal team asserts the footage demonstrates police failed to specify the laws they were enforcing to disperse the protest, with O’Brien stating the body-cam convinced him that “Ms Thomas was struck in the face by a male police officer, resulting in extensive and severe injury to her eye.”

While O’Brien acknowledged that it is “not typical” for a lawyer to publicly comment on an ongoing criminal case, he argued that the “objective evidence concerning this prosecution” necessitates an “immediate public response.”

“This is particularly crucial where comments by senior police officials and politicians have downplayed the seriousness of the incident, seemingly justifying police actions and statements that have adversely affected my client’s position,” he stated. 

SMH reports that a NSW Police officer familiar with the situation corroborated O’Brien’s claims, indicating Thomas was “punched in the eye.” 

Although NSW Police withdrew the infrequently invoked charge against Thomas and replaced it with a standard charge for defying a move-on order, a spokesperson informed SMH they could not comment due to the ongoing investigation. 

“As with any critical incident investigation, the circumstances surrounding any serious injury and police conduct are included in that investigation, which remains ongoing,” the spokesperson mentioned.

Amidst ongoing inquiries regarding Thomas’ arrest and injury, NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson demanded urgent action in a formal complaint to Premier Chris Minns last month. 

“What transpired in Belmore was not policing — it was punishment,” Higginson wrote. 

“A community member was brutally assaulted by uniformed officers while engaging in peaceful political expression.” 

Lead images: 9News and Brook Mitchell/Getty Images