The individual accused of using derogatory language during an under-12 girls’ netball match against a Jewish team has been identified following a viral confrontation video with a community leader on social media.
Jody Scarcella, a married mother of two from Chifley in Sydney’s southeast, has remained in seclusion within her contemporary townhouse since the alleged event at Heffron Park in Maroubra last Saturday morning.
Monday, which coincided with her 43rd birthday, showed no signs of festivity at the multi-level residence. Scarcella was occasionally spotted peering through the curtains as reporters from the Daily Mail conducted surveillance outside.
Attempts to reach her were unsuccessful, as there was no response at the door, phone calls were blocked, and no one was seen taking Scarcella’s children to school that day.
It is believed by the Daily Mail that Scarcella, possibly a former childcare worker, has been too intimidated by the media’s presence to leave her home, with several news teams arriving after the Mail’s appearance shortly before 7 a.m.
Both Scarcella and her husband, Brent, have since deactivated their social media profiles, including those related to their business, as of Sunday.
She has retained prominent criminal defence lawyer Paul McGirr, a former NSW Police officer and prosecutor.
When asked on Monday afternoon about representing Scarcella, McGirr told the Daily Mail the accusations would be staunchly defended.
Jody Scarcella, a married mother of two from Chifley, in Sydney’s south-east, has been identified as the woman charged with using offensive language at a children’s netball game
News reporters gathered outside Scarcella’s townhouse in Chifley, in Sydney’s south-east
‘At this particular stage, all I can say is the accusations are denied – and certainly things appear to have been taken out of context,’ he said.
‘She’s a person of good character, never been in trouble before – and the matter will be contested.’
NSW Police on Sunday charged Scarcella with using offensive language in or near a public place following her alleged outburst at the junior netball match the previous day.
Police had been called to Heffron Park shortly after 10am on Saturday following reports a woman had allegedly made offensive comments during a game between Maccabi Netball Club – a club for Jewish girls aged seven and older – and Saints Netball Club.
Documents reveal Scarcella previously operated a home daycare business from her Chifley property, as well as a nanny placement service called Nanny Annie’s.
She is also understood to be a member of South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club and had previously posted frequently in NSW childcare Facebook groups.
Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command confirmed they had spoken to a 42-year-old woman at the scene and issued her with a move-on direction before charging her the following day.
‘She will face Waverley Local Court on June 17,’ police said in a statement.
The former childcare worker, who is married with two school-aged children, has retained prominent criminal defence lawyer Paul McGirr, a former NSW Police officer and prosecutor
Mr Ryvchin confronted Scarcella following the alleged incident in a now-viral video
Scarcella has been banned from attending future matches
NSW Netball has also banned her from attending any courts or games pending further investigations
A photograph obtained by the Daily Mail showed Scarcella speaking with a female police officer while other officers and onlookers watched nearby.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin attended the courts shortly after the alleged incident and filmed himself confronting the woman.
Footage of the confrontation has been viewed thousands of times online.
In a statement, Saints Netball Club said the alleged comments did not reflect the organisation’s values.
Randwick Netball Association has launched an investigation alongside Netball NSW.
