A member of the Mayo Traveller Support Group is to appeal yesterday's decision of Westport District Court that Mr Chris Lavelle was a fit person to hold a publican's licence.
Ms Bernadette Comiskey of the group had objected to the renewal of Mr Lavelle's licence at a sitting of the annual Licensing Court in September.
Ms Comiskey lodged the objection in response to a blanket ban on Travellers imposed by Mr Lavelle after alleged incidents involving Travellers during the annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage weekend. It is believed that the offending Travellers were all from England.
Mr Lavelle is a member of the national executive of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland.
"This judgment is a hugely retrograde step for Travellers", stated Mr Kevin Brophy, solicitor for Ms Comiskey. "If the judge had even criticised Mr Lavelle for his actions, instead she criticised Ms Comiskey for abusing the process of the licensing court.
"Chris Lavelle had stood up in court in September and admitted that he broke the law, that he knew he was breaking the law and that he would consider doing so again. He said this knowing that the Travellers he was complaining about were from England and not from the local community.
"There were no arrests or charges arising from the alleged incidents and yet he imposed a blanket ban and encouraged all the other publicans in town to follow suit," he added.
"This judgment raises fundamental questions as to the definition of a fit and proper licensee", continued Mr Brophy. "I cannot, and will not accept that a publican who openly breaks the law and is prepared to break it again is supported by the country's court system."
Ms Comiskey said: "I will not allow my children grow up in a society that allows apartheid . I was recently refused entry to a Ballina nightclub having been accused of intoxication. I am a Pioneer and have never even sipped alcohol in my life".
Ms Comiskey says she is devastated by the decision but will go all the way in the court system to highlight this case.
Mr Lavelle denies that the blanket ban was a concerted lobbying exercise by the VFI to overturn the Equal Status Act.
In her summary, Judge Mary Devins said Mr Lavelle had blatantly and calculatedly imposed the ban because he was fully aware of the power of the media. Mr Lavelle had worked as a journalist for many years with a local newspaper.
"I'm sorry all of this had to happen," said Mr Lavelle. "I doubt if such an action will be taken again. And, of course, I will serve Travellers again."
Mr Lavelle had claimed that he would have served Ms Comiskey in his bar because he would not have realised that she was a Traveller.
Mr Brophy will lodge an application to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court in the coming days.