Ennis District Court has refused to renew a publican's licence after a settled traveller claimed he was treated "like an animal" in the pub.
The traveller, Mr David McDonagh, said he was refused a second drink in Mr Jackie Whelan's Railway Bar in O'Connell Street in Ennis on November 19th last. He said that as he was leaving the pub, Mr Whelan shouted: "Damn you, get out and don't come back."
Judge Albert O'Dea said he was satisfied Mr McDonagh was refused alcohol for no other reason than that he was a traveller. He added that the reasons put forward by Mr Whelan and his employee, Ms Arlene Hayes, for refusing to serve Mr McDonagh had been concocted in the meantime, and said they had deliberately told lies under oath.
Judge O'Dea added: "From that, Mr Whelan is not a suitable or fit person to hold a licence and I am refusing to renew the licence."
In September last year Mr McDonagh, of Waterpark View, Ennis, was successful in having a licence not renewed for Dillinger's Pub in Ennis. It was restored at Ennis Circuit Court after the publican accepted Mr McDonagh's version of events and apologised to him for refusing to serve him.
Giving evidence yesterday, Mr McDonagh (42) said he asked to speak to the owner, Mr Whelan, after Ms Hayes refused him a second drink.
He said that when Mr Whelan arrived on the premises he immediately bolted the front door, went back inside the counter and asked Mr McDonagh in a sharp, angry voice: "What do you want?"
He said Mr Whelan began using abusive language and beat the counter with his fist four or five times.
Ms Hayes told the court she refused to serve Mr McDonagh because his uncle was visibly drunk. She said the reason Mr Whelan bolted the door was that there was a funeral passing.
Mr Whelan denied using abusive language and hitting the counter with his fist. He also denied that he knew Mr McDonagh was a traveller.