TWO MEN from Avoca, Co Wicklow, appeared in Arklow court yesterday charged in connection with the running of a “shebeen” at Templeusk, as gardaí inspected a lorry load of confiscated alcohol outside.
Gerry Canavan (56), who owns the shebeen, and Kieran Morgan, The Shack, Templeusk, Avoca, who was behind the bar, both pleaded not guilty to charges of trading without a licence in June and July last year.
But Mr Morgan (39) did plead guilty to the unlawful possession of drugs on the occasion.
Garda Sgt Fergal McHugh gave evidence of searches being carried out at the shebeen and three other premises on June 25th and July 3rd. On the first occasion he was accompanied by gardaí from the regional response unit with a hydraulic ram.
The door leading to the premises had to be forced after he twice called out that gardaí were there with a search warrant and got no response.
In cross examination Garda McHugh did not accept the defendants did not know they were outside. “There were 12 marked Garda cars in a country lane and people were in no doubt that we were outside,” he said. He believed that an unlicensed premises was being operated and that alcohol was being sold.
“Yes, I believe they were open for business,” Sgt McHugh said.
But he did not observe anyone paying for drink when he was there. There was a donation box on the wall. “In my professional opinion drink was being sold. It was not a case of people making donations. I believe it was for profit.”
Mr Canavan told Garda Sgt Fergus O’Brien during interview that he was running a shebeen where alcohol was given out to friends. They give donations to cover the price of the drink. His premises was a place where people came for a drink.
At the conclusion of the prosecution evidence, Judge Murrough Connellan adjourned the case to May 18th.