A club for gays and lesbians was granted a club licence despite Garda objections and a number of convictions for selling intoxicating liquor and holding dances without the proper licences.
The application which came before Cork Circuit Court yesterday was made by Mr Albert Leahy, secretary of the Cork Gay Social Club, in respect of its premises at Augustine Street, off South Main Street in the city.
Ms Marie Baker BL, for the applicant, said an area on the ground and first floor had been sectioned off from the rest of the premises where the organisation operated a wide range of services.
The Cork gay community occupied the premises for a number of years operating a book shop and cafe called The Other Side as well as offering a range of counselling services on serious issues such as HIV, sexual awareness and AIDs which were grant funded by the Southern Health Board.
Six full-time, three part-time and 22 community workers were employed. Judge Patrick Moran in granting the licence warned Mr Leahy the club would have to be operated within the confines of the law.