A well-known Shannonbridge publican was fined a total of €1,250 in the Athlone District Court this week (February 16 ), after being found guilty of being open after hours on two occasions, including the night the local club were on RTE’s Celebrity Bainisteoir.
“They weren’t on telly at three in the morning,” said Garda Mark Connell in evidence.
He had earlier told the court how he had called to the premises of John Ryan (55 ), from Garrymore, Shannonbridge, Co Offaly at 1.55am on June 26, when there was up to 70 people on the premises, and again at 3am on September 26, when “there were probably about eight or 10”.
“One employee asked me: ‘Have you everywhere else cleared?’,” said Garda Connell.
“He expected to be emptied last?” asked an incredulous Judge David Anderson.
In Ryan’s defence, Mr Padraig Quinn said that the June 26 date was the night of the Midsummer festival in the village, and that his client’s premises wouldn’t be able to hold 70 people.
“Judge, there’s an upstairs and downstairs,” said Garda Connell, who went on to say that all the late drinkers had been dealt with by way of caution.
Mr Quinn told the court the September date was the night the village’s GAA club had been on the RTE programme Celebrity Bainisteoir, and referred obliquely to a compromising circumstance his client allegedly faced on the night in question.
“Don’t keep me in suspense, Mr Quinn, who was the celebrity?” asked the judge.
Mr Quinn said his client had closed up on that night but had been obliged to re-open after an unnamed off-duty colleague of Garda Connell’s allegedly banged on the door looking for late drinks.
Garda Connell conceded this possibility, but the judge decided not to call for any sworn evidence as to the veracity of said allegation.
In mitigation, Mr Quinn said his client was finding business “very difficult” and was surviving on “the summer and boat trade”.
“The summer starts again on June 1,” said Mr Quinn.
Noting Ryan had two previous convictions for the same offence enquired: “Why should he be open again on June 1?”
“He found himself in an impossible position,” said Mr Quinn.
“Very well, Mr Quinn,” said the judge, as he fined Ryan €750 on the first count, and €500 on the subsequent one.
