Pub fined for punk concert
A PUNK ROCK concert and some late-night drinking at the Corner House in Rathnure led to court proceedings against the licensees, Michael and Nancy Byrne, last week. Judge Gerard Haughton looked at the pub's record and warned them not to break the rules again or they would face the loss of the licence.
Michael Byrne was summonsed for not having a dance licence in force at the Corner House on May 30, 2010, and with allowing customers on the premises after hours early in the morning of May 31, 2010. Nancy Byrne admitted a breach of the licensing hours on January 30 last year.
Kiltealy-based garda Denis O'sullivan told how he went to Rathnure on the May evening in question after receiving complaints from local residents. Loud rock music was being played. He approached Jamie Byrne, son of the licensees, who wrongly insisted that no public dance licence was required.
He maintained the same line when Garda O'sullivan returned with Garda Fintan Farrell shortly before the official closing time of midnight. They came back once more at 12.37 a.m. and discovered around 150 people remained in the pub or outside in the yard. They made no effort to clear the place and Denis O'sullivan said he felt a little intimidated by the punk rocker type of person present.
A second offence came to light the following January when Garda Andrea Cullen arrived to find the doors of the pub open at 2.20 a.m. She discovered about 50 people present.
Judge Haughton noted that previous convictions were handed down in 2009, 2008 and 2006 (two). He described the record as bad before he imposed fines of €500 on each of the summonses before him.
