# MP's attacker in court over rare nerve condition

> Brendan Nugent faced court in Wangaratta over allegations he drove his vehicle into federal MP Helen Haines, with his lawyer citing a rare neurological condition.
- Title: MP's attacker in court over rare nerve condition · Abc
- Summary: Brendan Nugent faced court in Wangaratta over allegations he drove his vehicle into federal MP Helen Haines, with his lawyer citing a rare neurological…
- Keywords: breaking, brendan nugent, helen haines, wangaratta court, dangerous driving, idiopathic transverse myelitis, news, politics, MP's, attacker, court, rare
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-21/brendan-nugent-faces-court-over-alleged-attack-on-helen-haines/107291248
- Published: 2026-10-20T23:35:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, brendan nugent, helen haines, wangaratta court, dangerous driving, idiopathic transverse myelitis, news, politics
## Man charged over MP attack
Brendan Nugent, forty-three, faced court in Wangaratta over allegations he drove his vehicle into federal MP Helen Haines outside her electorate office on Monday.
## Charges and victim's condition
Nugent faces charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
## Rare neurological condition cited
Nugent's lawyer told Magistrate Allison Vaughan his client suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis, a spinal cord condition causing paralysis, numbness and tingling and sharp pain. He is not currently medicated.

> My client suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis. It's a neurological disorder and he's been suffering from concussion.
## Next court date set for February
No bail application was made. Police will complete a brief of evidence by December twenty-fourth. The case returns to Wangaratta court on February fourth for a committal mention hearing.
## Key takeaway

Brendan Nugent, forty-three, faced court in Wangaratta over allegations he drove his vehicle into federal MP Helen Haines on Monday, causing serious injury. His lawyer told the court he suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition, and is not currently medicated.