Whiskey Au Go Go: Nightclub owner grilled over insurance plot claims in fiery inquest proceedings

The former owner of a Brisbane nightclub where 15 people died in a firebombing denies suggestions of arranging the blaze to collect insurance.

The former owner of a Brisbane nightclub razed in a firebombing 48 years ago has denied arranging the fatal blaze as an ­insurance job.

In a tense cross-examination at an inquest on Monday, Kenneth Little was grilled about the March 1973 attack on the Whiskey Au Go Go, which killed 15 people.

Mr Little denied suggestions by barrister Chris Minnery that he or his brother had a role in planning the firebombing.

“You were back in business pretty quick for someone who didn’t get insurance,” Mr Minnery said.

“I did not do what you are saying,” Mr Little responded.

The firebombing was one of the worst mass murders in modern Australian history until the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. The victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning after two petrol drums were ignited on the venue’s ground floor.

John Andrew Stuart and James Richard Finch were convicted of murder and arson but questions and allegations about the involvement of others have persisted.

The inquest seeks to identify if anyone else was involved or had any prior knowledge of the attack, as well as examine the adequacy of initial police investigations.

The court was told a meeting took place days before the fire about the liquidation of three clubs including Whiskey Au Go Go, Chequers and Jet.

Counsel assisting the Coroner Stephen Keim said liquidators were present with club owners and the discussion progressed to “insurance claims as a possible solution to the financial situations of these clubs”.

He asked Mr Little if he had heard of such a meeting, which he denied.

“Are you aware of any discussions taking place before the fire that would suggest there was a plan by someone to burn the Whiskey in order to claim ­insurance?” Mr Keim asked.

“Definitely not,” Mr Little said.

Mr Little said he had arrived at the fire from the Chequers nightclub and remembered seeing “smoke everywhere”, and bodies being brought out of the venue.

He said he did not recall ­telling another person “I told them this would happen” upon arriving.

The court heard Stuart had previously threatened to attack the nightclub but Mr Little had dismissed the warning because Stuart was “an idiot”.

Mr Minnery, representing murderer Vincent O’Dempsey, suggested Mr Little or his brother had arranged the fire in order to claim insurance.

The inquest was sparked by explosive claims at the 2017 ­murder trials of O’Dempsey and Gary Dubois. Both men were convicted of the 1974 killing of Barbara McCulkin and her two daughters Vicki and Leanne.

During their trial, it was ­alleged McCulkin was murdered out of fear she may implicate O’Dempsey over his alleged role in the firebombing.

Stuart died in prison in 1979 while Finch was deported to ­England after serving his sentence and died last year.

The inquest continues.

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