Laois publican gets probation act over lockdown serving

A publican at ‘one of the best run’ pubs in Laois who had 16 people on his premises during the lockdown has received the probation act. 

Alan O’Halloran, 60, of The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas was in court for having customers at his pub during the lockdown on November 21, 2020. 

Sgt JJ Kirby said gardai arrived at the pub at 8pm on the day in question. At the time, he said, “all pubs were supposed to operate on a takeaway basis.”

He said gardai observed a large number of people consuming alcohol at the rear of the premises. He said there were a total of 16 people there and the defendant was cooperative. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said the drinkers were in “an outhouse at the rear of a yard some number of yards away from the actual pub.”

He said the occasion was the defendant’s son’s engagement and the night of the Leinster Final. He said the publican had no income at the time and cooperated fully with gardai. “He runs one  of the best run businesses in Laois,” said Mr Meagher. 

Sgt JJ Kirby told Judge Michelle Finan that it was normally a well run premises. 

“I would like some money for charity,” said Judge Finan. She noted “Sergeant and Mr Meagher say you run a very tight establishment.” 

When the defendant returned with €300 for St Vincent de Paul, Judge Finan applied the probation act.