Fulham Broadway Pub Has Licence Restored
McGettigan's had been closed after a woman was hospitalised
McGettigan's on Fulham Broadway. Picture: Google Streetview
October 3, 2024
An Irish pub on Fulham Broadway, where a woman suffered a seizure after allegedly being glassed while dancing, has had its suspended premises licence reinstated.
McGettigan’s had been slapped with a temporary suspension following the incident on 1 September. 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’, with no mention of the assault or seizure. 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.
A witness statement by the officer who attended, PC Michael Walsh, said when he later returned to the pub, he was told by a member of staff 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 (October 2) Hammersmith and Fulham Council 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 be imposed. 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.
John Skoulding, a local resident, told the Sub-Committee that while he supported the review, he believed the further two-week suspension to be ‘quite generous’ given the issues raised with the pub.
“The context of course for residents is that over a number of years there has been increased crime and disorder there have been a number of incidents in the Fulham Broadway area,” he said. “The area is hugely residential and the issues which this particular site acts as a kind of illustration for are all too often realities for residents.”
Mr Skoulding added that he hoped the proposed conditions “will prove the licence holder takes this seriously, will evidence enforcement and will allow us a period where they can prove that they’re worthy of the licence”.
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.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter