CORK vintners scored a major victory in Cork Circuit Court when they successfully objected to the transfer of a licence from a Cork bar, The Clannad, where Michael Crinnion was shot dead, to yet another large pub in the city centre.
The application came before Judge Patrick Moran who was told that the lease for 111 Barrack Street had expired and the licence there extinguished.
A lease was acquired by the applicant, Nobel Rose Taverns Ltd, premises at 51 Grand Parade, beside the Waterside Hotel where a new pub of almost 4,000 square feet was planned.
The court was told that where a lease was terminated and the licence extinguished, the lessee, was entitled to come to court and apply for a new licence to replace the one which ceased.
However, there was a major objection from members of the Cork Vintners Federation to the application. Mr Jim Duggan, counsel for the applicant, said the new premises were not near the Clannad and the proposed plans were very different in size and character to the original pub.
Mr Noel Costello, a director of the applicant, said he had leased the Clannad for a few months and the lease had been terminated. Planning permission was granted in respect of the new premises at Grand Parade on the site of an old garage beside The Waterside Hotel.
He and his co director Ms Jacqueline Cassidy intended to run a substantial food and pub business there.
Vintners from many of the city's leading pubs told the court they believed another super pub would be detrimental to their businesses.
Mr Michael Reidy, of the Chateau, said many of the existing publicans in the city centre had extended their premises, investing heavily in them. The trade was reaching saturation point.
Mr Derry Murphy, of the Office Bar, said he had invested almost £500,000 in the pub. He was very apprehensive about the opening of a new pub of the size of the proposed one at Grand Parade.
Mr Barry Buttimer, former chairman of the Vintners' Federation, and owner of Canty's said the size of the new pub represented unfair competition.
Judge Moran said he had walked to the location of the proposed new pub and to the Clannad on Barrack Street and found the two areas were completely different in character. He added he had also listened to the vintners' concerns that their businesses would be affected by the new premises. He refused the transfer application.