Tralee publican pays €1,250 for letting in ‘early bird’ patrons

A publican who was found to have customers in his Co Kerry bar before legal drinking hours began is to pay €1,250 into the court poor box in lieu of a conviction.

Gardaí arrived at Turners Bar in Tralee at 10.10am on Sunday May 25th last and found four people on the premises, Tralee District Court heard. Opening time for bars on a Sunday is 12.30pm.

“These were early birds. This is the reverse of what normally happens,” Judge James O’Connor said. “Were the doors open or openable?”

Knock

A knock was required to enter, Insp Donal Ashe told the court.

One of the four men in the bar was drinking, waiting to go to work, while the three others were waiting for a bus, Rory O’Halloran, for licence holder Jeremiah Turner, said.

The court was told of two previous convictions, one in 2010 and one in 2013, both for having people on the premises late at night rather than in the morning.

Judge O’Connor said he would accept the offer of €1,250 on the charge of permitting four patrons on the premises between 12.30am and 12.30pm on condition it was paid by February 10th.