A baker was sentenced to five months' imprisonment yesterday for having filthy premises.
Patrick Keane, owner of the Home Bakery, Aylesbury Shopping Centre, Tallaght, denied his retail shop and bakery was dirty, claiming he had seen worse.
But Judge Gerard Haughton said the unhygienic conditions were "absolutely horrifying".
"If owners of food premises know they are going to go to prison for these kinds of offences then maybe it will do some good," he said.
Dublin District Court heard that on January 17th last year, an environmental health officer, Ms Susan Kelly, found walls, floors, and cooking utensils to be dirty, a build-up of dirt beside a cream preparation area and a piece of grease-encrusted timber under a doughnut frier.
There was dust, dirt and food debris in several locations, and items like the dough-mixer and bread-roller were encrusted with food debris.
The ceiling in the front retail shop area was in a poor state of repair and stained black. Bread trolleys and trays were encrusted with food debris.
There was a wash basin for staff, but it was obstructed by trolleys, a bin and other equipment. A dirty towel was all there was for staff to dry their hands.
There was no area for staff to change their clothes, with the result that clothing was left in different locations. Only one member of six staff had covering on their hair.
Keane told the court he had a full-time cleaner, and two members of staff had gone on health and safety courses. He had sold off the manufacturing end of the business and laid off some staff because it would have cost €70,000 to bring everything up to standard.
Judge Haughton imposed five- month concurrent sentences on each breach and fixed bail for leave to appeal in with an independent surety of €900. Keane was freed pending the hearing of his appeal.
