Judge grants Lisdoo Arms licence renewal

October 1987

JUDGE Brennan rejects an objection by the local fire authority, and grants an application for the renewal of a licence in respect of the Lisdoo Arms, Newry Road.

At Dundalk court, fire prevention officer Emmet Curran states he considers timber linings in the lounge of the premises a quite serious hazard.

He says he had listed 12 requirements, all of which had been implemented, except the question of the timber ceiling.

Mr. Curran explains the fire authority doesn’t want excessive timber in places of entertainment, such as pubs and clubs. There are six local premises that they had objections to because of the timber content, and had reached a compromise with five, the Lisdoo Arms being the exception.

The fire prevention officer says he would like the entire ceiling broken up, and the timber painted with fire retardant paint.

The section that would need to be removed is quite small.

He concedes that the same objections had been put before the district court, and the circuit court last year; and that Judge Smith had ruled, on appeal, that the timber was not a fire hazard.

However, Mr. Curran adds they are seeking what they consider reasonable fire safety stand- ards. As yet, they are only draft regulations, and not law.

The officer tells the judge it is hard to gauge whether it would be reasonably possible to get patrons out of the lounge before fire spread through the ceiling.

Judge Brennan rules he will allow the application in the absence of a definite statement that the timber is a real danger in the event of fire breaking out on the premises.