Judge rules that publican is liable for 2015 rates bill
A COUNCIL rates bill of €5,271 due on Colfer’s pub in Bannow was vigorously contested by the owner of the premises.
The District Court sitting in Wexford heard rate collector Roseanne Redmond giving evidence against John Murphy and Teresa Murphy of Danescastle, Carrig-on-Bannow.
She confirmed that the money was due to the local authority for the year 2015, adding that the total amount outstanding ran to more than €35,000 once previous years were taken into account.
Ms Redmond also accepted that €20 per week was being paid off the debt and reported that the public house had remained open up to the previous Monday.
Lengthy evidence under cross-examination was given by John Murphy who insisted that during the year in question the pub was leased to a limited company called Heather Breeze
This was in turn controlled by another firm called Tuskar Properties Limited, which had an office at Rowe Street in Wexford town.
Murphy’s evidence was that he and his wife ran the business and drew a combined €225 per week until he gave the two companies notice to quit in summer of this year.
During his testimony, he stated that he had attended the High Court 26 times as he battled to hold on to the property.
He also revealed that he had a pension from his time in the lighthouse service and this was his only income at the moment, though hardly enough to live on.
He said that he had run Colfer’s for 17 years and closed it a few days previously intending to put the pub licence in order.
Murphy’s testimony failed to convince Judge Gerard Haughton that he was not liable for the rates bill.
The judge pointed out that the publican had prevented a receiver taking possession of pub.
The court found that Heather Breeze was not liable as the relevant lease was not signed by the company.
He awarded Wexford County Council a decree for the amount sought, plus €310 in costs.