A Galway city pub and off-licence has been ordered to close for two days following convictions for allowing a 17-year-old employee sell two bottles of vodka to another 17-year-old.
John Rabbitte, licensee of Rabbitte's pub and off-licence, Forster Street, Galway, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court to both offences and also to not having a notice displayed at his off-licence to state that persons under 18 would not be served alcohol.
Garda Patricia Grady said she came across a group of drunken youths on the street on August 7th last, and one of them told her he had bought the vodka in Rabbitte's off-licence.
Garda Grady said she went to the premises and discovered there was no notice on display stating people under 18 could not be served.
When she spoke to the employee who had sold the drink to the youths, she discovered he was only 17.
Rabbitte's solicitor, Mr Michael Molloy, said the employee had known the youth whom he sold the drink to and genuinely thought he was 18. Both youths, he said, had worked together at a nearby hotel in the past and knew each other well.
Rabbitte, the court was told, had assumed the employee working in his off-licence was over 18 because of his previous work experience.
The pub, which has been in the Rabbitte family for three generations, had a good reputation, Mr Molloy said, and he added that his client had played a leading role in the Vintners' Association and had strong views in relation to under-age drinking.
Insp Marie Skehill said the pub and off-licence operated under one licence, and the pub would have to close, along with the off-licence, following a conviction for these offences.
Judge Mary Fahy said that, in view of the guilty plea and the fact that the licensee had no previous convictions, she would make a closure order for the least amount of time.
Insp Skehill said that, according to the legislation, the premises would have to close 30 days from the date of conviction and a notice would have to be posted on the front of the premises stating why it was closed.
Judge Fahy fined Rabbitte €300 for permitting the supply of alcohol to persons under 18 years and ordered closure of the premises for two days. She fined the licensee a further €100 for not displaying the notice.