Gilligan’s nightclub facing multiple investigations by Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation

A grieving widow’s calls for Gilligan’s nightclub to be scrutinised following her husband’s tragic death come as authorities confirm the venue is under investigation. Find out what happened.

A WIDOW whose husband died after an 11-hour drinking session at Gilligan’s Hotel and Resort wants bar staff’s actions to be scrutinised by authorities, claiming irresponsible service of alcohol contributed to his death.

Robert Smith, 51, fell and hit his head against the pavement on Grafton St shortly after consuming alcohol at Gilligan’s on July 21, about 11.30pm.

He died in Townsville Hospital after family made the difficult decision to switch off his life support.

Lisa Davis, Mr Smith’s partner of 36 years, said she wants Gilligan’s to be formally investigated.

Her calls come as the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation confirmed investigations into the venue were being conducted.

“The OLGR is conducting investigations into Gilligan’s Backpackers Hotel and Resort. However, the confidentiality provisions of the Liquor Act 1992 prevent us from commenting further,” an OLGR spokeswoman said.

The OLGR spokeswoman did not confirm current investigations into the nightclub related in any way to Mr Smith’s death.

Gilligan's nightclub on Grafton Street in the Cairns CBD is currently the subject of multiple investigations by OLGR. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Davis and Mr Smith were holidaying in Cairns on July 21 with family when tragedy struck.

“We went to Gilligan’s at 11am. That’s when my husband went into the bar area and started having a few drinks,” Ms Davis said.

“We stayed there from that time on. He (Robert) didn’t leave the venue at all until the incident that night.”

Ms Davis estimated Mr Smith consumed about 50 beers between 11am and 10.30pm.

“For that whole period of time, they would have served him that many drinks,” she said.

“I know how he drinks, he would have had one every 15 minutes – I can confidently say that.

“He’s a happy, placid person. That’s how he behaves towards everyone, whether he’s been drinking or not.”

Ms Davis said Mr Smith started showing signs of intoxication – including slurred speech, confusion and stumbling – about 7pm.

Robert Smith was flown to Townsville Hospital with a fractured skull after suffering a fall on Grafton St in Cairns CBD. Picture: Supplied

“If he came up to me and I was behind a bar there would have been no way I would have served him,” she said.

She said she saw bar staff serve Mr Smith alcohol “ten times or more” after he was showing signs of intoxication, between 7pm and 10pm.

She said she began to lose contact with Mr Smith about 10pm as the venue grew busier.

“He went to go to the toilet, but then I saw him walking around outside (the bar area) with two schooners in his hands. We were all saying ‘how on earth did he get served two schooners?’,” she said.

“He was walking back towards the pool area looking for a way to get in. That’s the last time I saw him that night.

“I didn’t leave it too long to go looking for him … I did six laps of the whole venue.

“One of the security guards decided to run upstairs and check the footage because he knew I was panicking, I was frantic and I was worrying about (Robert).

“I said to them ‘have you kicked him out? It doesn’t matter if you have, I just need to go look for him’.”

Robert Smith and his son Robbie.

Ms Davis said the security staff told her Mr Smith had not been removed from the venue.

“I then went out the front of the venue … to see if I could spot him. I knew something was wrong.

“Two police ran up to me and said to me ‘are you Lisa Marie?’ and then I knew something had happened because Robert’s the only one who calls me Lisa Marie.

“The next time I saw him, he was in a coma in hospital.”

Mr Smith’s son, Robbie, said he had seen street camera footage that showed Mr Smith leaving the venue.

“It showed the security guard opening the gate for dad,” he said.

“They didn’t escort him out.”

Ms Davis said her family is considering further action, including legal advice, after they receive the coroner’s report and Mr Smith’s death certificate.

“If they had’ve done their job properly, he would still be alive,” Robbie said.

Robert Smith departed Gilligan’s nightclub area about 11.30pm on July 21. Picture: Brendan Radke

A spokesman for Gilligan’s said he was aware of the incident concerning Robert Smith but could “definitely guarantee” Mr Smith did not consume the amount of alcohol estimated by Ms Davis.

The spokesman did not specify how many drinks Mr Smith was served and did not provide any comment as to whether or not Gilligan’s bar staff attempted to stop serving Mr Smith alcohol.

He said the venue was co-operating with any investigations the Office of Liquor and Gaming is currently conducting.

“We have regular dealings with the Office of Liquor and Gaming … (these investigations) could be an old or new matter,” he said.

The spokesman said he instructed staff to not speak to the media or authorities following Mr Smith’s death.

“We don’t want our staff talking because they might have a lack of information; they might not know what they’re talking about,” he said.

The spokesman said Gilligan’s did not have issues “at all” with irresponsible service of alcohol.

“We’re very active in our training of staff,” he said.

“We’re very vigilant … we’re classified as a high-risk venue so we’ve got to make sure we abide by all the rules.”

Originally published as Gilligan’s nightclub facing multiple investigations by Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation