Death reveals sinister side of alcohol

It was a split second on a dark Friday night almost two years ago that forever changed the lives of those that loved Dennis “Millsy” Mills. For family and friends of the fallen Stratford Dolphins Football Club stalwart it has been a long road that at long last wrapped up in the Cairns District Court on Wednesday. But it was not the result that was hoped for.

At first the driver of the car that hit and killed Millsy was released without charge and police at the time dismissed any suggestion the fatal crash was anything but an accident.

Millsy was out jogging when he was struck down.

Then in May police charged a 35-yearold Caravonica man Brendan John Gallagher with operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

He was more than five times the legal alcohol limit. Through numerous court appearances grief stricken loved ones have followed the case in a constant reminder of their loss.

“What ifs” and “if onlys” played in the hearts of Millsy’s sisters, children and mates from the Straddie Dolphins Football Club. I’m sure even Millsy’s little white dog, which he named Girlfriend, was downhearted at the loss of her master.

Overwhelmed with grief a shout of “I hope you rot in hell,” rang out from the public gallery of the court as loved ones struggled to accept that Gallagher could be a free man after two years in jail. Yes, grog is legal, yes booze is socially acceptable and getting wasted on a Friday night has become ingrained within the fabric of hard drinking Far North Queensland lifestyle. But how does one measure the cost of alcohol-related violence and death on those left behind to pick up the pieces?