Kerry Anne O’Brien’s ban from entering Mount Magnet lifted so she can quickly travel through for work purposes

A Mount Magnet woman who was banned from being within 20km of the Murchison town after serious accusations of violence in May has successfully applied for her bail to be changed. Kerry Anne O’Brien is now allowed to travel through Mount Magnet for the “shortest period possible” after reappearing in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Prosecutors opposed the change, saying Ms O’Brien posed a “high risk” of breaching her conditions if allowed to return. “I spoke to the Mount Magnet police this morning, they’re very opposed to the idea,” Acting Sgt Dean Solman said. “She previously caused a lot of issues between families in the town.” Police have alleged Ms O’Brien attacked a man with a “large stick” and damaged his property on three occasions in one night on May 25 and 26, allegedly yelling: “I don’t care if I get locked up, this is my town”. The 53-year-old was charged with three counts of breaching a violence restraining order, two counts of criminal damage, common assault, carrying an article with intent to cause fear, and threatening to harm. In court last week, her lawyer Tim Hampson said she had recently received a job offer in Kumarina, requiring that she pass through the town on the way there from Geraldton. “We’re not asking for conditions to be removed, just altered for work,” he said. Mr Hampson had previously told the court the allegations against Ms O’Brien were not clear-cut, saying there “seems to be an element of self-defence”. “The complainant has used money as a weapon against Ms O’Brien over the years. There is a serious power imbalance,” he said. Magistrate Evan Shackleton modified Ms O’Brien’s bail to allow her to work in the region but kept the 20km exclusion rule unless travelling for work. He said she was not able to stay in Mount Magnet but he would allow her to pass through in the “shortest period possible” provided she carried a work roster. “I’m told she’s caused untold other trouble in the town,” he said. She will return to the same court on August 26.