Fordrough pub murder: Pub closed indefinitely after fight death

Mar 24 2009 by Paul Suart, Birmingham Mail

THE Fordrough pub, where family man Tracy McConnell, was murdered has been closed indefinitely.

City magistrates ordered its closure yesterday until police and licensing bosses agree it can be re-opened.

Magistrates were told that police were called out to it 65 times in little more than a year.

Police applied to close it while officers probe the murder.

Inspector Liam Brennan, from Bournville Lane police station, told them yesterday that trouble at the pub is commonplace given the force has been called to it on 65 occasions in the last 14 months.

Insp Brennan also revealed there had been a vicious assault at the Fordrough, in which a man was beaten and kicked on the floor causing him to lose many of his front teeth, just moments before fighting erupted in the car park where Mr McConnell died.

“There are several reasons for my objections to the pub re-opening,” he said.

“In the last 14 months 65 police call outs have been made to these premises, some of which resulted in disorder.

“We feel there is a threat to public safety not only to members of staff but also people using the licensed premises.