This article is from page 23 of the 2008-05-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
TWO Ennis newsagents were fined by a judge for serving cigarettes to an underage boy.
Patrick Meehan of Meehan’s shop and Gerard Connellan of The Abbey Newsagency – both in Abbey Street – were prosecuted in separate cases by the Health Service Authority af- ter they each sold a pack of twenty Benson and Hedges to a fifteen-year
old boy.
The Ennis District court heard that the boy – the son of a HSE inspec- tor – was sent into both shops to buy the cigarettes on October 26, 2007 as part of a HSE compliance check.
Judge Joseph Mangan heard evi- dence from a HSE inspector that she stood to one side in both shops and witnessed the boy being served with- out being asked for any proof of age.
Both newsagents admitted the of-
fences. Defence solicitor for Patrick Meehan said in his client’s defence that at the time, the shop was packed with school children and he was alone, trying to serve while keeping an eye on what was going on in the ENO ee
Stephen Nicholas for Meehan said the boy who was sent to buy the ciga- rettes could easily have been older.
‘The boy who came to the counter and asked for cigarettes 1s two inches
P-NOCCoMmO SEDO MOON ae BCosb1m
“He looked old enough. My client made a judgement call that he was old enough. He refuses at least ten people a week because they are too young in his shop.”
Judge Mangan fined Meehan €100 but refused to award the costs of the HSE prosecution against him.
Defence for Gerard Connellan told the court that he was away from the premises for a very short period and
it was a young assistant who served the under-age boy with cigarettes.
“Despite the fact that he clearly instructs his staff about this, and al- though he works long hours, he hap- pened to be away at the bank at the time.
“The assistant ended her employ- ment with him immediately”.
Judge Mangan also fined Connellan €100 and did not award costs against him.