Amnesty Hearings — Durban — 1999-10-12

MR RICHARD: And for how long did you work at the Parade Hotel?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Seven years between the Why Not and Magoo's bar and two years in Garfunkel's.

CHAIRPERSON: Two years where?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Two years in Garfunkel's Bar Restaurant.

CHAIRPERSON: So you worked seven years?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: In the Why Not and Magoo's bar, yes.

CHAIRPERSON: And an additional two years in ...(intervention)

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: So you'd been - is that by 1986?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: You'd already been working in the establishment?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: From '81 to '87.

CHAIRPERSON: You worked from, in ...(intervention)

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: In the Parade Hotel.

MR RICHARD: In other words it was not seven years, it is seven years in total?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: In total in the Why Not and Magoo's bar and a further two in Garfunkel's.

MR RICHARD: So that's nine in total?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That's right.

MR RICHARD: Right in what capacity were you employed?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: I was first employed as a barmaid, then I was head barmaid of all three bars which Garfunkel's opened a new bar so I was the head barmaid between Magoo's, Why Not and Garfunkel's, I was also manageress for two years which I dealt with the hotel itself.

MR RICHARD: Now how long were you manageress for?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: For two years.

CHAIRPERSON: When would you have been the manageress of the hotel?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: I was manageress from 1987 to 1988.  From '86 to '88.

MR RICHARD: Would you please describe to us what the establishment known as Garfunkel's is?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Garfunkel's was a restaurant and an entertainment centre as well with music and it was a late night entertainment organisation.

MR RICHARD: Now when you say entertainment, what sort of entertainment?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Well they had a live band there as well and the food was very good and you had a passageway through from the Magoo's and the Parade Hotel right through so you had a non-stop venue in all three bars.

MR RICHARD: So in fact Garfunkel's was for all purposes part of the Parade Hotel?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Oh yes, definitely.

MR RICHARD: And it was hotel space above it?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

MR RICHARD: Now then so as to achieve clarity, which pub adjoined onto Garfunkel's?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: The Why Not bar was directly behind it.

MR RICHARD: When you say behind it was that the east or the west?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Well it's the front of the hotel, the front of the Parade Hotel.

CHAIRPERSON: I think we've got the Why Not was on the Marine Parade, is that correct?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: On the corner and then if you walked away from the Marine Parade down that side street you would get to Garfunkel's?

MS KEERNEY: That's exactly, but we had a door adjacent that was open, if you're going in and out of Garfunkel's.

CHAIRPERSON: Directly from Garfunkel's into Why Not?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON: You could get from the one to the other without going down a passage or going out of the building?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

MR RICHARD: Now if I could put it correctly, the Parade Hotel is situate on the corner of Serridge and Marine Parade?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

MR RICHARD: And the Garfunkel Restaurant faced only onto the Serridge Road?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

MR RICHARD: And in fact faced south?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

MR RICHARD: And if I then proceed, Why Not Pub was on the south east corner?

CHAIRPERSON: I think we've got this one that was facing east on the side then the Magoo's was to the north of the Why Not?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Also facing the Marine.

MR RICHARD: What sort of person patronised the Why Not pub?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: The Why Not was more of a social, quieter pub.  If you wanted to have a gathering or a meeting or conversation with your friend or your loved one or whatever the case was, it was a quieter pub, they played music whereas Magoo's was a very heavy live band action bar

MR RICHARD: Now in and during June 1986 is it not correct to say it was the in place and much in vogue?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Not only in '86, it had been the in place for about 5 years non-stop.

MR RICHARD: And accordingly a very popular ...(intervention)

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: I said a most popular with the most regulars frequenting the Why Not and Magoo's Pub and Garfunkel's for that matter, for that matter of fact.  I saw faces there for the next six years that were regulars practically every day and every weekend.

MR RICHARD: Now how well did you get to know the patrons who attended all three?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Quite well, quite well.

MR RICHARD: Now ...(intervention)

CHAIRPERSON: Sorry, if I may just intervene, Mr Richard?  During June 1986, were you - what were you then, Ms Kearney?  Were you then a barmaid or were you manageress at that stage?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: No I was the head barmaid, I had to run between the three pubs.

CHAIRPERSON: Of the three outlets?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes.

MR RICHARD: So you - what was the head barmaid, did you check stocks, check that the fridge is alright?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: And checked that the girls had everything they needed, change, stock from the back.

CHAIRPERSON: And then you had barmen or barladies?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That's right, two in each pub.

CHAIRPERSON: In each pub, so you weren't so much behind the counter?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: I was not that much behind the bar at that stage I was running three pubs.

CHAIRPERSON: You were more managerial?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That is correct.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you.  Mr Richards?

MR RICHARD: Now prior to 1986 you had been a barlady?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: That's right.

MR RICHARD: For how long were you a barlady?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Well from the time I'd started in 1971.  Only the Why Not bar was in action at the time, we built Magoo's in 1982.

MR RICHARD: So in fact you were associated with the Parade Hotel from 1971?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: From '81.

MR RICHARD: '81, sorry, I misunderstood.

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes.

MR RICHARD: And for how long were you so to speak floor barlady?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: I was barlady until '86.

MR RICHARD: Until '86?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes.

MR RICHARD: So as at June '86 for how long had you either not been a barlady as opposed to chief barlady?  What was the situation?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: I was barlady until '86 and then they made me head barlady and then five months later they made me manageress for two years.

MR RICHARD: When did they make you head barlady?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: In '86?

JUDGE PILLAY: The fourteenth - what was that answer?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: January of '86.

JUDGE PILLAY: You were what?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Made the head barlady.

MR RICHARD: Now during the period January '86 and June '86, did you lose contact with your customers and clientele?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Not at all.

MR RICHARD: And were they well known to you?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Very well known.

MR RICHARD: Now if we take it this way on a Saturday night how many people would fit into the Garfunkel's Restaurant?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Garfunkel's was sometimes packed to capacity.  It was a very large establishment.  We used to have to sometimes close the door and queues would be outside to get in and we weren't allowed to have that many people inside.

CHAIRPERSON: Were you on the premises on the 14th June?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes I was.

CHAIRPERSON: Can you recall what the patronage was like on that particular evening, if you could just describe it to us?

HELEN BLOSSOM KEARNEY: Yes I can.  Well Magoo's was packed to capacity.

MR RICHARD: How much was that?