Accused attacker Brendan Nugent’s descent from rising footy star to reclusive activist

Brendan Nugent’s quiet upbringing in north-eastern Victoria had the hallmarks of success.

But the isolated life of the man accused of violently mowing down Independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta is a far cry from his early educational and sporting triumphs, including lining up alongside a future AFL great.

The former high school footballer is facing charges for three offences, including one federal offence, after allegedly hitting Haines with a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electoral office in Wangaratta on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old was also charged with cultivating and possessing cannabis.

Those who knew Nugent are now grappling with the charges laid against him.

Rising star on the footy field

Nugent attended Wangaratta High School and was in the graduating class in 2001.

He played in the school’s state championship-winning football team in 1998, aged 15. He received four votes for best player.

Among Nugent’s teammates in the high school team were future 293-game AFL great Steve Johnson, who won three premierships with Geelong before finishing his career with GWS, and Karl Norman, who was involved in several off-field scandals in his short career with Carlton. Nine.com.au has attempted to call Johnson.

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A former classmate and football teammate told nine.com.au that Nugent came from a “really good” family, but appeared to be estranged from his father Rod, a former veterinarian, over the last few years.

The man, who spoke anonymously, said he was unaware that Nugent had moved to his father’s property in Tarrawingee.

“It’s a bit strange... I thought [Rod’s] kids lived away,” he said.

“[Rod] is a really lovely fellow. This does surprise me a bit.”

He said the Wangaratta community will likely support the Nugent family as they come to terms with the incident.

In a statement shared to Facebook, Wangaratta High School said the community was “shocked and deeply saddened” about the alleged attack on Haines.

“Haines is a very significant Australian. She has served our nation and the people of Indi with care, integrity and passion,” the school said.

The statement made no mention of the school’s alumni, Nugent.

Rod Nugent and his partner Christine Cunningham released a statement on Tuesday and described the incident as “devastating and unfathomable”.

“Helen Haines is a deeply respected, valued and much loved member of our local community,” the couple said.“All of our love and all of our thoughts are with Helen and her family and friends.

The pair also thanked locals and police who came to Haines’ aid and said they would assist Victoria Police “in any way we can”.

A photograph has emerged of Cunningham and Haines posing together at an event in April last year.

Nugent lived at the rural Tarrawingee property for seven years but was reclusive and rarely spoke to neighbours.

Images from the property reveal the squalid and isolated conditions he lived in before his alleged attack on Haines.

The home was in disarray when police arrived on Monday evening.

Garden tools, beer bottles and assorted household items were scattered out front.

Neighbours previously said Nugent rarely had visitors, often played loud music and largely kept to himself.

Nugent’s vocal criticism of government and media

Nugent’s years as a reclusive yet vocal activist have been neatly laid out through his extensive social media footprint.

An active X account bearing his name includes posts on topics regarding Israel, climate change and Jeffrey Epstein.

The account also interacted with Haines’ official X profile on multiple occasions.

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After leaving Wangaratta High School, the accused studied at the University of Melbourne and holds a Master of Forest Ecosystem Science.

He was previously a committee member of the Save Our Strathbogie Forest group, a Victorian advocacy group which protests industrial logging in the Strathbogie State Forest.

Nugent was unemployed at the time of his alleged attack on Haines.

His lawyer told the court on Wednesday that he suffered from a rare neurological condition and was not medicated.

The court also heard Nugent was currently suffering from a concussion and that he had idiopathic transverse myelitis.

It is a rare disease in which the frequency and intensity of the symptoms are known to vary.

In Nugent’s case, no cause for the disease has been diagnosed, so it is designated an “idiopathic” condition.

Multiple social media posts chronicled his struggle with a “significant disability” and that he was unable to qualify for NDIS support.

Nugent claimed in 2022 that he was essentially homeless and needed to “cook on a fire and wash my clothes in the river”.

Nugent was known to police – however this is his first time spent in custody.

Haines, 65, remains in a Melbourne hospital in what police described as a critical but stable condition after losing her leg in the attack.

Nugent was arrested at the scene and remains in custody.

He faced court on Wednesday and made no application for bail.

Police are yet to establish a motivation for the alleged attack.