A leading Donegal publican has claimed he is being unfairly treated compared to his Letterkenny counterparts after he was fined for three counts of allowing after-hours drinking on his premises.
Brendan Devine of Rooney’s Nightclub in Dunfanaghy appeared at Falcarragh District Court to face the charges.
Mr Devine admitted to all three counts but pleaded his case when allowed to give evidence by Judge Paul Kelly.
The breach of the license laws summons related to incidents on September 14th, 2015, September 12th, 2106 and September 27th, 2016.
The court was told by Garda Inspector Sean Grant on the first occasion, Gardai visited Rooney’s Nightclub at 1.40am and found more than 200 on the premises with alcohol being served.
On September 12th, 2016, just under an hour after the scheduled closing time, Gardai found a further 300 people on the premises with music being played and alcohol being served from two bars.
On the next date, September 27th, 2016, more than 60 people were on the premises at 2am.
Solicitor for the accused Mr Patsy Gallagher said his client could not understand why his premises was the only premises in the area to be visited by Gardai and prosecuted.
Judge Paul Kelly replied “Perhaps the fact that there were 200 or 300 people on the premises might be a clue.”
Mr Devine took to the witness stand but Judge Kelly warned him that he had admitted to the three summons and he would not allow him to use the stand as a soap box.
However, Mr Devine said the licensing system was a “disgrace”.
He told the court how on the night his premises was raided by Gardai, himself and his son had visited a premises in Letterkenny and was able to drink until 2.30am.
He waved a document to the court claiming that Judge Kelly had granted exemptions until 2.30am and that this was actually illegal.
The whole license system in Donegal is a joke and a disgrace,” said Mr Devine.
However, Judge Kelly said that Mr Devine had admitted to the offences and he described the offence committed on September 14th as “utterly premeditated and deliberate.”
He added that he was fully aware of Mr Devine’s views on the licensing system but reminded him that many other establishments who had broken the licensing laws had also been prosecuted.
He fined Mr Devine a total of €1,750.