Licence reinstated despite flare ups at Irish boozer in Hammersmith
By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter
An Irish pub where a woman suffered a seizure after allegedly being glassed while dancing has had its premises licence reinstated.
McGettigan’s on Fulham Broadway had been slapped with a temporary suspension following the incident on September 1. An investigation by Met Police officers found the woman had been hit with either a bottle or a phone, before being taken to hospital due to the seizure 15 minutes later.
Security at the pub initially told officers there had merely been a ‘minor altercation’. The force only became aware of the extent of the incident after being called by the London Ambulance Service (LAS), which informed them of the woman’s injuries.
PC Michael Walsh obtained a witness statement from a member of staff which said the woman was hit on the head with a glass while dancing.
The police subsequently found other incidents on previous dates had also not been reported. These included a woman being allegedly groped by a man outside the venue in May. The man was allowed to re-enter the pub to buy the woman a drink.
A report by PC Nicole Sondh had requested Hammersmith and Fulham council review McGettigan’s’ premises licence. An interim suspension was implemented on September 5 ahead of a full review at last night’s licensing sub-committee meeting.
Prior to the meeting, the police had amended its position from requesting the licence be stripped to asking for a further two-week suspension.
This would be to allow the pub to implement new conditions agreed with the force, including the installation of high-definition CCTV, that better records be kept, and that the former Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) be no longer employed.
Duncan Craig, a barrister representing McGettigan’s, confirmed the former DPS had been removed, and that two new candidates were proposed. He however requested the refusal of a further two-week suspension, pointing out that until a new DPS is allocated, the pub cannot reopen. Once that happens, the proposed new conditions will take effect.
Adrian Overton, licensing team manager at Hammersmith and Fulham council, said the authority has no issues with the temporary suspension being lifted, as long as the conditions are in-place by the time the pub reopens.
Councillors opted to agree with Mr Craig’s submission, choosing to remove the suspension of the licence, and to impose the conditions agreed between McGettigan’s and the police as well as the removal of the former DPS.
A separate investigation by the council into whether the pub was breaking its licensing conditions on September 1 is ongoing.
Pictured top: McGettigan’s on Fulham Broadway (Picture: LDRS)