Glasgow nightclub where teens partied before drugs deaths facing licence review

A Glasgow nightclub where three teenagers partied before dying in suspected drug-related deaths is facing a licence review following a police complaint.

Representatives for SWG3, on Eastvale Place, are expected to appear at a Glasgow Licensing Board hearing on Friday.

It is understood the hearing has been called following a complaint from Police Scotland.

The meeting comes after the death of an 18-year-old woman who became unwell at SWG3 on New Year’s Day and later died in hospital. Officers were looking at drugs as a line of potential inquiry, it was reported at the time.

This year's tragedy followed the deaths of two 18-year-old men who also died in suspected drug-related circumstances in August 2023. Scott Allison, 18, from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, and Marcus Dick, from nearby Coatbridge, passed away after going to a rave at SWG3 where DJ Ben Hemsley was headlining.

Police launched a probe into the deaths and it's understood officers were following a line of enquiry that drugs were involved.

Cops said they believed a batch of super-strength ecstasy tablets in the shape of Donald Trump’s face may have been involved in the deaths of three teens.

The Trump pills, containing the chemical MDMA, were recovered by Glasgow security staff at the time of two tragedies in August.

The RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response) report identified the Trump pills along with others in the shape of logos for Netflix and Twitter as potential killers.

Options available to the board include suspending or revoking the premises licence, making a variation to the licence conditions or issuing a written warning.

A spokesman for Glasgow Licensing Board said: “An application to review the licence of these premises has been received and will be considered by the board.

“The outcome of the review will be determined by the individual merits of the submissions made before the board and within the context of existing licensing law.”

SWG3 decided to postpone or cancel a number of events in January following the third death.

A spokesperson for the venue said at the time: “Whilst the venue already meets or exceeds all relevant safety and security regulations, we have taken a decision to postpone a number of events during January while we carry out a detailed review of systems and procedures.”

SWG3 has been approached for comment.

However, speaking after the young girl's tragic death, bosses at SWG3 said safety remained their "highest priority".

A spokesperson said: "We are truly devastated by the tragic death of a young woman who attended the venue on 1 January, and our thoughts are with her loved ones at this extremely difficult time. Our team has been in direct communication with the family, and we ask that their privacy is respected."

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