Scruffy treated roughly

By William Brougham

There are mixed community reactions over a Goulburn Street bar’s plans to scrap its 3am to 5am lockout .

The owner of Scruffy Murphy’s, Malcolm McGuiness, says his venue has been unfairly singled out for the lockout and has applied to the City of Sydney Council to have it removed.

But the President of the East Sydney Neighbourhood Association, Doug Purdie, says the pub needs to present a strong argument if it wants to change its regulations.

“I would oppose getting rid of the lockout until they can show evidence that the reasons for the lockout are no longer valid.

“The lockout is there for a reason and it makes no sense to try and get rid of it until they can prove the behaviour of patrons has improved,” he says.

Between September 2007 and July 2008 New South Wales Police recorded 170 incidents at the bar and in response Mr McGuiness voluntarily introduced the 3am curfew.

In 2008 the 24 hour Irish-themed pub was placed on the State Government’s list of the worst 48 pubs in terms of assaults.

But last year Scruffy Murphy’s had dropped from number 48 on the list to 82 and Mr McGuiness said behaviour was getting much better.

A spokesperson for the City of Sydney Council says it has been taking advice from local police which could affect the pub’s application..

“Police have raised no objections about the deletion of the 3am to 5am lockout on the basis of operational improvements made by the hotel,” the spokesperson says.

The President of the Darlinghurst Resident’s Action Group, Jo Holder, says the rules should apply to all bars in entertainment precincts or not at all.

“Scruffy Murphy’s should still be subject to those conditions but we believe they should still apply to everybody so the issue of bad behaviour can be brought under control.

“At the moment everybody blames everyone else and says it’s not me causing problems,” she says.

But the Vice-President of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership, Andrew Duckmanton, has sympathy for Mr McGuinness.

“This guy is losing money and I can understand his plight therefore I think any business owner would do what he is doing,” he says.

City of Sydney Greens Councillor Irene Doutney says she is divided on the issue.

“I’m very torn as we’ve had a lot of complaints for a while about Scruffy Murphy’s.

“I’m in support of late night trading but it has to be managed properly so we need to work together to fix any problems,” she says.

The City of Sydney Council says any submissions from residents or businesses regarding the proposed change need to be received before July 5.