A Killarney hotel was convicted yesterday of failing to keep proper records in relation to employees.

The Castlerosse Hotel Ltd, trading as The Castlerosse Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry, was fined £550 at Killarney District Court.

The court heard that in 1997/98 the hotel had paid more than £13,500 through the petty cash system to 86 employees. In 1998/99 it paid £19,286 to employees in the same way. No tax or PRSI had been paid on the monies.

All arrears were since paid to the Minister for Social Community and Family Affairs and the offence was merely a technical one, said solicitor, Mr Padraig Burke, solicitor.

However Judge Humphrey Kelleher disagreed. Fining the hotel, he said it was "quite a serious offence".