Convicted triple-murderer Vincent O’Dempsey takes stand at inquest into Whiskey Au Go Go firebombing
A man convicted of murdering a woman and her two daughters more than 40 years ago has taken a defiant action on the final day of an inquest into the deadly firebombing of a Brisbane nightclub.
Convicted triple-murderer Vincent O’Dempsey has denied helping arrange a historic firebombing which killed 15 people, refusing to take an oath to give evidence during a fiery end to a coronial inquest.
O’Dempsey, who is serving a life sentence for the 1974 murders of Barbara McCulkin and her daughters Vicki and Leanne, was the final witness called at an inquest into the firebombing of Brisbane’s Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub in 1973.
While career criminals John Andrew Stuart and James Richard Finch were convicted over the blaze, the new coronial inquest was ordered after explosive claims at O’Dempsey’s sentencing in 2017.
It was suggested Mrs McCulkin was killed over concerns she would implicate O’Dempsey in the nightclub attack.
On Monday, O’Dempsey’s evidence got off to a rocky start after he refused to take an oath or affirmation before the court.
“I decline to take either,” the elderly O’Dempsey defiantly told the court.
He railed against the use of “false witnesses” and a “false report” being submitted to the inquest before being warned by state coroner Terry Ryan.
Proceedings continued despite O’Dempsey’s objection to the sworn testimony.
O’Dempsey spent the afternoon denying any involvement in the attack on Whiskey Au Go Go or helping Stuart or Finch.
“I never had any involvement with any arsons,” he said.
“I never arranged anything.”
The court was told O’Dempsey and his former friend Warren McDonald had a conversation years ago where it was revealed Finch was returning to Australia from England to give evidence at an inquest into Whiskey Au Go Go.
Finch had been deported to England after serving his sentence.
Stephen Keim, counsel assisting the coroner, asked if O’Dempsey had ever said during that conversation that Finch needed to be killed.
“I don’t know Finch, never met him,” O’Dempsey answered.
O’Dempsey also denied saying “if Finch comes back, I’m f--ked” and “Finch is the only one who could finger me for the Whiskey Au Go Go”.
He also maintained he had nothing to do with the disappearance and murders of the McCulkins.
“Are you prepared to tell the court where these murders occurred?” Mr Keim asked.
“No murders as far as I’m concerned,” O’Dempsey answered.
“I don’t know where they are.”
Fifteen people died during the attack on the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub after two petrol drums were ignited on the ground floor early on March 8, 1973.
Stuart and Finch were convicted of murder and arson.
The inquest is examining whether anyone else other than the two men were involved or had prior knowledge of the fire.
Both men have since died.
O’Dempsey’s co-accused, Garry Dubois, was going to be called to the inquest as a witness but he died in prison last year.
With the evidence closed, submissions for the inquest are expected to begin in four months.
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