Late night pubs and nightclubs in Co Kerry are to see their serving times cut back by half an hour after a District Court judge said he was taking into account the public good rather than "the jingling" of private tills.
Judge James O'Connor's decision to allow alcohol to be served only until 2am will have immediate effect, and will apply for a year throughout District Court area 17 which embraces the towns of Tralee, Killarney, Kenmare and Dingle.
Three weeks ago, at the annual licensing court in Tralee, nine nightclubs and late night pubs, mainly in Tralee, applied for exemption orders to 2.30am.
However, the State said it wanted the opening times restricted by half an hour to curtail late night assaults and disturbances.
State solicitor Ed O'Sullivan said the Intoxicating Liquor Act of 2003 allowed the court to refuse or curtail exemptions in cases where there was concern about nuisance and inconvenience. The State was not objecting to the exemptions per se, but wanted the time reduced.
Garda Supt Pat Sullivan said late night exemptions were contributing to "alcohol-fuelled" violence in Tralee.
He said seven gardaí had been assaulted when they tried to control violence. There was criminal damage to cars and property, and assaults outside and near late night premises.
Residents, parents and "concerned citizens" had all approached him about the increase in violence.
Last week Sgt James Foley gave evidence of 98 arrests for public order offences between 3am and 4am on weekend nights in the past eight months.
However, vintners have strenuously objected to reduced opening hours.
Séamus O'Halloran, director of Club Fabric which accommodates 1,000 people on weekend nights in Tralee, said taking a half hour off opening hours would have a serious effect on his business which at peak employs 75 people.
Yesterday, summing up the arguments for vintners, solicitor Michael Larkin said the national problem with public order was not necessarily due to late night opening.
Judge James O'Connor said his decision was to reduce the opening time for reasons of public order, public safety and because of the "general melee" of trying to find taxis between 3am and 4am.