A judge yesterday gave the go-ahead for the first fully-fledged off-licences in Dublin's O'Connell Street despite opposition from the city council, the Garda and business interests.
Judge Peter A. Smithwick granted publican Mr Seamus Griffin, owner of two Centra Stores on the city's main thoroughfare, a licence to convert part of his shops from wine sales only to one with the full range of beers and spirits.
Three months ago, he succeeded in getting a similar licence for another store he operates in nearby Westmoreland Street when there were no objections. The authorities had failed to spot an advertisement saying an application would be made.
Objectors told Dublin District Court off-licences would be contrary to efforts to turn O'Connell Street into a main thoroughfare befitting a capital city. The Garda argued that off-licences would encourage more on-street drinking and lead to an increase in public order offences.
Judge Smithwick said the stores already trade in wine and this application was merely an expansion of that trade for which the applicant had shown there was a demand.