The father of Glenroe actor Michael Collins yesterday failed to block the renewal of a pub's licence after a judge rejected his claim that he had been barred because he was a Traveller.
Judge Sean MacBride said the decision of the Drogheda Lodge, Finglas, Dublin, to refuse to serve Mr John Collins was reasonable given his involvement in a "near riot".
Dublin District Court was told that Mr Collins - whose son plays a Traveller in the Glenroe TV series - alleged he had been discriminated against because of the actions of other members of the Travelling community.
He had been a regular in the pub for 14 years until May 23rd, 1998, when he and members of his family and friends arrived for post-Communion Confirmation celebrations. At around 9 p.m., a "near riot" broke out when there was an argument between two Traveller women. Tables were overturned, drinks spilled, shutters pulled down, and glasses broken.
Mr Collins claimed he had left the pub hours earlier, about 2.30 p.m. and was "probably at home in bed" when the incident occurred.
"I believe they [the pub] were holding me responsible for other people's actions," he said.
Judge MacBride said he did not accept Mr Collins's evidence.
He believed a garda who arrived to deal with the disturbance and who said he saw Mr Collins there. He agreed with the garda, who said Mr Collins, as the most senior member of his community present, could have intervened to calm the situation. Instead, Judge MacBride added, Mr Collins had tried to interfere when the garda was trying to arrest his son-in-law outside the pub.
He also took into account that Mr Collins, from his own evidence, had about six pints of beer and possibly two shorts during his time in the pub. "I accept he was in the pub between 9 to 9.15 p.m. and he had to be very drunk and incapable of conducting himself even if he was semi-coherent."
Judge MacBride said he would have no hesitation in refusing to renew a pub's licence if there was discrimination. But the Drogheda Lodge had served Mr Collins for 14 years, as well as other members of the Travelling community before and after this incident. The pub was entitled to refuse to serve anybody who was involved in situations like this.
This was the third objection taken by members of the Collins family against pubs over alleged discrimination against Travellers.
Last November, Michael, the actor, withdrew an objection to Bo Derrols in Smithfield after the proprietor promised to serve all people as long as they behaved themselves.
Earlier this month, his wife Catherine Joyce-Collins, failed in a similar objection to the Halfway House in Ashtown.