A lapdancing club manager was "aghast" at a Garda suggestion he was running a brothel after officers saw a customer "vigorously groping" a naked dancer in a private room, Dublin District Court heard yesterday.
Mr Gerry Harrington, manager of the Barclay Club in Dublin's South William Street, denied to visiting gardaí that he was providing sexual services for customers. He told the court he could not believe what they were suggesting after they left the room where the alleged incident took place on October 26th last.
Gardaí are objecting to the renewal of the club's dance and music licences on the basis of the fitness of the character of the licence holders, Pineton Inns Ltd.
Insp John Quirke told the court he saw three male customers and three exotic female dancers.
One woman was putting her clothes back on, another was topless and dancing in front of a man sitting on a chair in a private room. Another man was sitting on a chair as a completely naked woman leaned over him. He was touching her private parts.
The inspector said he left the room accompanied by Mr Harrington who was asked: "Are you running a brothel?" Mr Harrington replied: "That is what lapdancing is about." Insp Quirke cautioned him that he might be liable for criminal prosecution.
"Mr Harrington denied sexual acts were being provided and said absolutely not," the inspector said.
A customer, Mr Paul Greenhalgh (24), a financial services worker in Britain, said the only time he came into contact with a dancer, Ms Lauren Langley, was when she stumbled after being startled by the arrival of the gardaí and he put his hand on her side to prevent her from falling.
Mr Gerry Harrington, who admitted he had been declared bankrupt in 1994 and could not therefore be a director of the company which is owned by his brothers Donal and John and another man, said it was an upmarket venue for gentlemen.
The hearing resumes today.