Driver Arrested for Allegedly Striking Federal MP Helen Haines

A 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, has been arrested and taken into police custody after allegedly striking federal independent member for Indi, Helen Haines. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community.

According to neighbours, Nugent has been a source of concern for some time, with frequent calls to authorities over his mental health. A neighbour told police had been called numerous times, and they had asked for mental health checks to be conducted on him.

"I feel like, you know, the neighbours have all called the police on him numerous times," the neighbour said. "I think the police have done everything in their power, they've followed it through. I've asked for them to do mental health checks on him and get through to the mental health team that supports him and I'm sure that they have done that."

Online, Nugent has presented himself as an environmental campaigner and has been active on social media, posting about issues such as climate change and logging. In 2019, he even complimented Ms Haines on the platform, describing her as a "politician who takes climate change seriously".

"politician who takes climate change seriously"

Nugent has also been involved with the group Save Our Strathbogie Forest, according to its chairperson, Bertram Lobert.

"At the time he was an intensely intelligent man interested in the issues our group was interested in," Mr Lobert said. "He was a person who cared about the environment. He got on generally well with people. It's tragic what has happened."

Sources have confirmed that Nugent has undergone a mental health assessment while in custody following the incident. His online activity also reveals claims of living with a "significant disability" and suffering from "chronic pain".