The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre by Geoff Plunkett

Unless otherwise stated, the narrative is based on the original police murder-investigation files. The quoted conversations are taken verbatim from police eyewitness statements, court transcripts, coroners' reports and other archival material. They reveal that the full story of that night has never been told – until now.This is a work of non-fiction. These files reveal what occurred prior to, during, and after the conflagration. That changed in 2012, when the author had the privilege of being the first person to view the files created by the original lead detectives. Rumours have swirled around that horror-filled night for decades: were Stuart and Finch framed? Were others involved? Were further atrocities committed to hide the truth behind the outrage?įor decades it was impossible to uncover the truth behind the tragedy. The Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub massacre was a defining moment in 1970s Australia: the ‘horrific epicentre of all the crime and filth, the corruption and deaths that came before and followed that tragic night in March 1973, when 15 innocent people lost their lives’.ĭespite the quick arrest and subsequent conviction of John Stuart and his sidekick, James Finch, the ashes have never stopped smouldering. The quoted conversations are taken verbatim from police eyewitness statements, court transcripts, coroners’ reports and other archival material.

What other true crime story has the following list of characters an alleged serial killer, a psychopath, child rapists, an LSD freak gang of amateur criminals called the Clockwork Orange, a mentally ill career cop-bashing criminal, a professional fire bug, an alcoholic reporter, a ‘Judas’ brother, prostitutes, a lonesome honest cop, the murder of witnesses, many of Australia’s top crims, top cops with question marks, and a criminal tag team with mice tattooed on their penises. described it as ‘ an extraordinary read’.Īs featured in The Australian, Courier Mail, Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, Daily Telegraph, Gold Coast Bulletin, Geelong Advertiser, ABC News Online, The Advertiser and on the ABC 7.30 Report and Radio 6PR. Based on exclusive access to all the original police files.

The whole Whiskey Au Go Go story is out now. A second edition is also in preparation with a new title – SMOKE AND MIRRORS: THE WHISKEY AU GO GO MASSACRE. No te t he first print edition and reprint has sold out.

The second half of the reopened Coroner’s inquest commenced on 24 January 2022.

The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre by Geoff Plunkett