Offaly publican fined €1,500 for after hours drinking

A PUBLICAN from Birr was convicted and fined €1,500 for allowing after hours drinking on his premises during the April 9 sitting of Tullamore District.

Michael Dickson, Seffin, Birr committed the offences on August 4, 2024 in Enright's Bar & Lounge, Emmet Square, Birr.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Giving evidence, Sgt Donal Casey from Birr Garda Station told the court he was on duty in Emmet Square on August 4 at 3am when he saw five or six people exiting Enright's Bar & Lounge. "When I entered the pub I came across eight people at the back consuming alcohol. Alcohol was not allowed to be sold after 12.30.”

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Giving evidence, Mr Dickson said some of the people in the premises had been helping prepare the pub for Vintage Sunday (a festival) by hanging banners and streamers in the premises.

“They weren't able to put them up earlier in the night because it had been very busy in the pub.”

Mr Dickson added that three people had been waiting for a taxi to take them home.

Judge Andrew Cody said he didn't believe Mr Dickson's version of events, calling it “a spoof of a story”.

The defending solicitor Garech Doorley said his client is 51 years of age and his premises “is normally well run. The pub is his sole source of income.”

The Judge convicted and fined €1,500, warning that he closes pubs for a week which commit after hours offences twice in the one year.

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