A Galway hotel which cancelled a pre-booked wedding function when it discovered the bride and groom were members of the Travelling community had an application for the renewal of its drinks licence objected to by the bride-to-be at Galway District Court yesterday.
Adjourning the matter until October 11th, when a date will be set for a November hearing, Judge Michael Connellan said if the hotel didn't "get its act together there will be no more weddings going on because it will lose its licence."
Ms Caroline Ward (22), St Finbarr's Terrace, Bohermore, Galway, whose family have been settled for generations, objected to the renewal of the annual drinks licence of Galway Bay Hotel, The Promenade, Salthill, Galway.
Ms Ward told the court that she and Mr Derek Ward, Camilawn Park, Galway, decided to marry in March 2000 and she contacted the hotel for reception details.
She was told a deposit of £200 would secure a date. She paid the deposit which secured March 10th, 2000 and the hotel wrote to confirm the booking. On June 29th last Ms Ward received a letter from the managing director, Mr Terence Brennan, saying the date was double booked by an assistant manager and he returned her deposit.
She said she rang the hotel and talked to Mr Brennan who said the hotel was booked until 2002. He offered to pay compensation and said the hotel "could do without" any publicity, Ms Ward claimed. Ms Ward said she got a friend to phone the hotel. Her friend learned that March 10th, 2000 did not have another booking.
Ms Ward's solicitor, Mr Justin Sadleir, wrote to the hotel on July 22nd saying she did not accept its explanation of a double booking. Ms Ward lodged an objection to the licensing application in August. At the same time she received a letter from the hotel's solicitors saying it could not accept the booking as the function was likely to attract violence.
Mr Sadleir said he and his client had just learned in court that her boyfriend was at the centre of the hotel's objection, as he had a previous conviction for which he was given the benefit of the Probation Act, and there was another allegation against him which he denied. Mr Paul McGettigan, for the hotel, said Mr Brennan denied offering Ms Ward any form of compensation and also denied speaking to her. He said the hotel refused to hold the function because it believed there would be a real prospect of violence.
He then claimed Mr Derek Ward had a previous conviction and was facing more serious charges but Judge Connellan warned Mr McGettigan he did not have proof of this before the court.