The owner of an Egyptian restaurant, butchery and foodstore was warned by a High Court judge yesterday that unless he co-operated with food hygiene inspectors his premises would be closed down for good.
Mr Justice Éamon de Valera had been told that Sameh Gouma, proprietor of El Sinbad, in South Richmond Street, Dublin, was still open in defiance of a Food Safety Authority (FSA) notice to shut his premises.
Rossa Fanning, counsel for the Health Service Executive (HSE), said that environmental health officers had been unable to ascertain to what extent there was a grave and immediate danger to public health because of Mr Gouma's obstructive attitude.
He said inspectors had been obstructed by Mr Gouma and on several occasions had to be accompanied during inspections by members of the Garda Síochána because of fears for their safety.
Mr Fanning said an application to seek a High Court order forcing Mr Gouma to close down his restaurant and shop had been brought by Charlene Kiely, an authorised environmental health officer, and she had been earlier granted permission to serve short notice on Mr Gouma to appear in the High Court yesterday.
Yesterday Mr Gouma apologised to the court for his previous behaviour and said his premises were now ready for immediate uninterrupted inspection. He said that on one occasion when health inspectors had called he, as a Muslim, had been on his way to Friday afternoon prayer and could not let them in.
Judge de Valera told Mr Gouma the court had a duty to ensure members of the public who used his premises were not put in any danger.
"Clearly the state of the premises is totally unsatisfactory and that is a very inadequate word to use in the circumstances," he said.
He said Mr Gouma's behaviour towards people who had only been doing their job and who had treated him with great sensitivity was unacceptable.
Judge de Valera made an order directing that an inspection be carried out within 48 hours and granted the HSE leave to renew their application if Mr Gouma failed to co-operate with them.
He adjourned Ms Kiely's application for a court order for closure until October 3rd.