Court told Dublin bar had no licence to sell alcohol

Developer and charity organiser Niall Mellon did not hold a licence to sell drinks when he and others were proprietors of the Three Rock Bar in December 2009, a court heard yesterday.

Paul O’Neill told Judge Susan Ryan in the Circuit Civil Court that an insurance company was repudiating a policy it had sold Mr Mellon, proprietor of Three Rock Bar, for damages cover for accidents.

Mr O'Neill said inquiries had revealed there was no intoxicating liquor licence attaching to the premises when student Claire Graydon fell and broke a finger at a birthday party on the premises on December 5th, 2009.

Ms Graydon (22), Rockfield, Dundrum, Dublin, has sued Opcon Limited, trading as Taylors Three Rock Bars, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin, for damages for personal injuries.

She has also issued a claim against four Dublin businessmen including Mr Mellon, Mount Anville Road, Goatstown; Liam Heneghan, Leinster Lawn, Clonskeagh; Donal Cawley, Westminster Lawns, Foxrock, and John Keenan, c/o the Grange Road pub.

Mr O’Neill, for the defendants, told Judge Ryan that his instructing solicitors, Shaffrey & Co, wished to bring a motion on behalf of the insurers to come off record for all defendants on the grounds of material non-disclosure about the lack of a lawful licence to operate the pub.

Sara Jane Smyth, for Ms Graydon, said her client was seeking judgment against all of the defendants and would oppose the application.

The court heard Ms Graydon slipped on an allegedly wet and uneven floor surface while attending a birthday party on the premises.

Judge Ryan adjourned the matter until November 4th.