Whiskey Au Go Go inquest: Underworld killer in world of denial

Underworld killer Vince O’Dempsey has given evidence at the inquest into the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub firebombing that killed 15 people in 1973.

Vince O'Dempsey. Picture: Channel Nine

The first thing that happened when underworld killer Vince O’Dempsey took the witness stand in the Whiskey Au Go Go inquest on Monday was his lawyer calling for “blanket immunity” over anything he had to say.

It meant he could not be incriminated by any evidence he gave.

The second thing was that O’Dempsey, who allegedly played a role in the nightclub firebombing that killed 15 people on March 8, 1973, refused to swear an oath on the Bible or make a formal ­affirmation.

“I decline to do either,” he said in a husky voice that betrayed his age with a hint of frailty.

Warned by coroner Terry Ryan that he could be liable for contempt of court if he refused, O’Dempsey, who has sat quietly through weeks of testimony about his alleged involvement in the cold case, unleashed. “A fraud has been perpetrated on this court by the use of some false witnesses and a farcical presentation of a report to the coroner,” he said.

The coroner cut him short, telling him it was “not a platform for a speech”.

It seemed the inquest, which has been running in several tranches for almost a year, and which on Monday was closed for deliberations for at least six months, had come to a standstill.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Stephen Keim, argued the opportunity to hear from O’Dempsey, even unsworn, was too important.

Mr Ryan agreed.

O’Dempsey, 82, has spent much of the inquest watching from a small glass cubicle, on release from a prison cell where he is serving a life sentence for the 1974 murders of Barbara McCulkin and her daughters, Vicki, 13, and Leanne, 11.

On Monday he wore the usual black leather jacket, white button-up shirt and black trousers.

The headset used to aid his hearing was also there, but this time he had a microphone as well.

O’Dempsey was asked about his role in the disappearance of the McCulkins, whose murder was allegedly motivated by the desire to conceal Barbara’s knowledge of the Whiskey fire.

“I had nothing to do with their disappearance,” he said.

He admitted to being “briefly” at the McCulkin home in Brisbane’s Highgate Hill on the day the trio disappeared, along with his co-accused Garry “Shorty” Dubois, who died last year.

He recalled having drinks with McCulkin at her home that day.

Did he and Dubois take them for a drive?

“We never took them for a drive.”

Did they tie them up?

“We never tied them up. That’s ridiculous.”

Did they take them to a bush block on the Darling Downs and strangle McCulkin?

“Definitely not.”

Did they rape the girls?

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Did they murder them?

“No.”

Did they interfere with their ­remains?

“That’s a silly assertion.”

O’Dempsey was asked about testimony last week by his former associate Warren McDonald, whose evidence at the McCulkin murder trial in 2017 helped secure a conviction.

He denied being warned by Mr McDonald in the late 1990s that James Finch, who along with John Stuart was convicted of murder for lighting the Whiskey fire, would be returning to Australia from Britain to give evidence. Stuart died in Brisbane’s Boggo Road jail in 1979 and Finch died last year.

O’Dempsey denied saying he’d have Finch killed because he could “finger me for the Whiskey”.

He claimed Mr McDonald had given evidence against him only to “get himself off the hook” for drug trafficking charges.

“That’s all figments of Warren’s imagination,” he said.

O’Dempsey rejected any involvement with the Whiskey fire.

“I’ve never had involvement with any arsons,” he said.

Did he arrange for Finch and Stuart’s involvement?

“I’ve never had anything to do with Finch nor have I had anything to do with that ratbag ­Stuart.”

O’Dempsey said his former girlfriend Kerry-Anne Scully and a witness dubbed Prisoner X had fabricated evidence used to convict him of the McCulkin murders in 2017.

He denied testimony saying he’d have Mr McDonald “dealt with” and he’d told Ms Scully he’d killed 33 people.

“I haven’t murdered any people and I’ve repeatedly said that.”

Then came the crunch.

Was he prepared to take an oath or affirmation to back up the answers he had given?

“No, I’m not,” O’Dempsey said. “My word’s good enough.”