A dance licence for a well-known west of Ireland disco was revoked yesterday following evidence that almost 700 people beyond the legal limit were allowed on the premises last month.
Judge Mary Devins was told at Kiltimagh District Court of "sauna-like" temperatures at the N 17 disco in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, on June 14th. A joint inspection carried out by the Garda and fire service found that there were 1,707 present, while the legal limit was 1,010.
The Chief Fire Officer for Mayo, Mr Seamus Murphy, said he went outside to the rear of the disco and saw steam coming out of the exit doors. It was obvious that many of the patrons, all of whom were in the 15-18 age bracket, had consumed alcohol, he said.
He added that the disco was "dangerously overcrowded". Stating that he did not wish to be emotive, he continued: "With that number of people present there could have been a very serious incident."
Mr Murphy explained that a head-count had been conducted and he had no doubt that at 10.15 p.m. there were 1,707 people on the premises.
Garda Sgt Edward Breslin described the heat as "sauna-like" and said the disco was packed with youths aged 16 to 18. The holder of the dance licence, Mr James Mooney, of Main Street, Kiltimagh, who pleaded guilty, explained that his attention had been diverted on the night by the fact that a number of patrons had arrived at the door intoxicated.
They had been "throwing up and slipping in and out of consciousness" and had to be brought to Mayo General Hospital for treatment. Stressing that alcohol was not served at the teenage disco, Mr Mooney added: "I slipped up on the night. It should not have happened."
Judge Devins described as frightening the accounts by Chief Fire Officer Murphy and Sgt Breslin about what they saw on the premises.
She said the duty of care towards patrons rested with Mr Mooney and he had behaved irresponsibly. He was lucky nothing appalling had happened.
The judge fined the defendant €1,000 and revoked the dance licence.