€250 fine for trading without licence

LISTOWEL District Court heard that a west Limerick man had traded as a publican in a North Kerry bar without ever having held a licence in his own name. His son, however, had held a licence, the Court heard.

Tom Enright, Mountmahon, Abbeyfeale pleaded guilty to a charge of permitting the consumption of liquor after hours at The Elm Bar in Duagh.

Gardaí said they entered the premises at midnight on a Sunday night to find 25 people present and ‘money exchanging hands.’ Gardaí asked to see Mr Enright’s licence, who informed them ‘ he didn’t have it’. Sergeant Kieran O’Connell said Mr Enright’s licence ‘ had been held in his son’s name prior to this’.

The Court heard that that licence had expired a year earlier and that Mr Enright’s son had moved abroad since then.

“The father was running the pub without ever having held a licence?” Judge Waters asked to affirmation by the State.

The Court also heard that Mr Enright had ceased trading six or seven weeks after the garda inspection.

Mr Enright’s solicitor said: “That is the position. His own health hasn’t been good and has since this incident ceased trading.”

They said it was not likely Mr Enright would seek to return to operating the Duagh bar.

Judge Waters fined Mr Enright €250 on conviction of the offence.