This article is from page 25 of the 2012-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
ONE-HUNDRED people were still in a pub 25 minutes after closing time during a music festival in Sixmilebridge last year, a court has heard.
The detail emerged during a case at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Alan O’Callaghan, licencee of the Pump House, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, was charged with permitting entertainment to be provided contrary to the intoxicating liquor act.
Garda Sandra Hartigan told the court that she went to the premises at 23.55 August 21 (2011). She said that the door of the pub was open. She said 100 people were inside while a band was also playing. Garda Hartigan said closing time on the night was 23.30. She said that when she spoke to O’Callaghan (Rosroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge), he told her that he was aware of the time. Insp Tom Kennedy said there had been complaints from residents on the night.
Solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick told the court that the premises was a familyrun pub. He said it had been the first night of a local harvest festival. He explained that all money raised through the festival was for local community projects. Mr Fitzpatrick said his client should have obtained an extension. He said O’Callaghan had made efforts to clear the pub. “It was a unique occasion,” added Mr Fitzpatrick.
Mr Fitzpatrick described the pub as the “hub of the local community”. He said, “He accepts his responsibility. He holds his hand up.”
Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that if O’Callaghan wanted to get people off the premises, then the first thing he should have done was stop the band playing. He fined O’Callaghan € 300.