The offices of the organisation representing most Dublin publicans have been raided by Competition Authority officials, believed to be investigating allegations of price fixing.
The authority would not comment on the raid, but the chief executive of the Licensed Vintners' Association said he believed the officials were attempting to substantiate allegations of price collusion in the sale of drinks.
During the raid, which took place on January 23rd, authority officials photocopied 119 documents which they found at the LVA's premises, and took away the copies.
Among the documents taken from the premises on Anglesea Road in Dublin was a guest list for the association's annual ball.
The chief executive of the association, Mr Frank Fell, yesterday said that he believed the Competition Authority staff was looking for evidence of price collusion. "The ongoing policy of the LVA is to co-operate with the Government in all matters relating to the pricing of drinks in pubs," said Mr Fell.
"They (Competition Authority officials) arrived at around 11 a.m. and left at 5 p.m. They had their own photocopier and made copies of 119 documents." He said the tactics used by the officers would have been acceptable if they had been pursuing hardened criminals.
"The tactics used were highly inappropriate to deal with a law abiding trade association," he said.
He said that among the documents taken was a list of guests for the association's annual ball. "I find this to be very sinister," he said. "This is a small office, and to see seven people entering was highly intimidatory. In 40 years of business I have never seen anything so badly handled. "In conducting their search the officers refused to take my word that certain drawers contained personal documents. "I had to open these drawers and produce their contents. It was quite embarrassing." Mr Fell said his association had no faith in the Competition Authority. The way in which the raid was carried out was a complete intrusion and a "breakdown" in what he called the "system of civil liberties".
"I have no gripe with a State body carrying out its lawful functions but the tactics used were heavy-handed," he added.
Asked if the authority wanted to comment on Mr Fell's remarks yesterday and on the way he said the raid was handled, a spokesman for the authority said it did not comment on any investigation.
The Licensed Vintners' Association has about 650 members, representing most Dublin publicans. They account for a third of the licensed trade business in the State.