Publicans accused of allowing drunken customers

Six Clare publicans are facing prosecution for allegedly permitting customers to be drunk on their premises.

Supt John Kerin, of Ennis Garda station, also confirmed yesterday that a file is to be sent to the DPP arising from a raid by the fire services and gardaí on a Clare nightclub for alleged breaches of fire regulations.

The cases will begin before the District Court next month.

The first successful prosecution against a publican for allowing drunkenness on his or her premises took place in Dublin in December, and if convicted a mandatory closure order follows.

However, the chairman of the Clare branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), Mr Declan Brandon, said yesterday the legislation allowing publicans to be prosecuted for allowing drunkenness on their premises "is most unfair".

He said publicans were suffering under the weight of legislation. "If I allowed a drunk person who is a danger either to himself or the public on my premises of course I should be prosecuted, but this legislation is much broader than that, and that is what worries publicans."