RECORD District Court fines of £55,000 have been imposed on the operator of a mouse infested hot dog shop at Croke Park after a judge said "reckless disregard" for the health of customers had been shown.
Judge Joseph Mangan convicted and fined Concessions Ireland Ltd, owned by Mr Michael Lawlor, a former soccer player, a total of £55,000 with £600 in costs, following a prosecution by the Eastern Health Board under the food hygiene regulations.
Judge Mangan told the Dublin District Court yesterday that the company operated by Mr Lawlor had shown "reckless disregard for the health of a large number of people". It had been done in a spirit of unbridled greed.
"Given the number of people spoken about in court on Thursday, I can only conclude this is a highly profitable operation," said Judge Mangan.
He continued: "In such circumstances, the primary concern of the court is to impose penalties which must ensure that the penalty acts as a deterrent and I intend to proceed accordingly."
Mr Gerry McErlean, defending solicitor, said his client intended to appeal the decision.
On Thursday the court had been told that during the All Ireland final last September an EHB inspector had visited the company's Canal End shop, a fast food outlet in the Hogan Stand, and that stand's main cafeteria.
Ms Anne Marie Part, a health inspector, gave evidence of a mouse infested shop serving hot dogs and filthy conditions in the cafeteria and fast food outlet.
Among a catalogue of evidence relating to more than 50 breaches of the food hygiene regulations the court was also told about food stored at incorrect temperatures and tongs used for handling food stored beside rat traps.
Judge Mangan gave the company 14 days to pay the fines. In the event of an appeal he set Mr Lawlor's bond at £1,000 with an independent surety at £20,000.