A BUNCRANA publican had
to drive patrons home in his pyjamas after being
called out of bed by his barman who couldn't get
them to leave the premises, the local court heard.
Seamus Doherty admitted having customers after-hours
on his premises, Hutton's, on Monday, April 4, last
at 2.45am.
He told the local court he got a phonecall from his
bar man while asleep in bed at 1.15am. He was told
there were a group of up to 16 Travellers on the
premises who wouldn't leave because they couldn't
get taxis.
Mr Doherty said he drove to his bar on the Main
Street and proceeded driving the patrons home to
various locations around the town in his small van.
On his "third or fourth" return to the premises he
met Gardai who "read the riot act on me". Mr
Doherty, represented by Ciaran MacLochlainn, told
Judge Paul Kelly that he was the third generation of
the family to run Hutton's. The bar had no previous
convictions. "We try to run our house well," he
said. Judge Kelly asked why, with closing time being
11pm on Sundays, the bar man left it as late as
1.15am to call him. Why did he not call the Gardai
if he was having difficulties with patrons, asked
the judge. Mr Doherty said he didn't know. Judge
Kelly said bar staff would in future have to enforce
the closing times more rigorously. He spared the
local publican a conviction and told him to donate
€250 to the local St Vincent de Paul shop. Mr
Doherty produced a receipt within a short time and
received the benefit of the Probation Act. |
