Clare publicans warned to get ‘house in order’

GARDAÍ have taken quantities of alcohol from two well-known Clare pubs in the past week on suspicion that they were trading without a licence. The seizures from the pubs, in different parts of the county, are the only such seizures this year. The publicans will now be brought before the courts charged with trading without a licence.

Clare’s most senior garda has said the raids are not part of a crackdown on such activity but warned that pubs must have a licence to trade and that gardaí will enforce the law.

“This is something we would be in regular contact with the Revenue about,” said John Kerin, Chief Superintendent, Clare Garda Division.

“We seized alcohol from two licensed premises in Clare that were operating without a licence in the past week. Anybody we seize drink from in an operation like this, they would have been warned well in advance to get their house in order or we would be enforcing the licensing laws,” he explained.

“We cannot allow people to operate without a licence. We understand some people are in difficulties with VAT and with Revenue but to be fair to everyone we cannot allow people to operate for too long a time without a licence because it is not fair to other licensees, who are paying VAT and taxes,” the chief superintendent stated.

Mr Kerin said that while there had only been two seizures of alcohol from pubs in the county this year, other public houses should take heed.

“There are a couple of premises that we have advised that if they don’t get their house in order shortly the same will apply,” he stated.

“As well as being fair to compliant publicans, there are other issues regarding trading without a licence. There are issues with insurance and different things if people don’t have a licence. Even for us to enforce the law, issues are raised and that is why we cannot allow people to operate without a licence,” he added.