Smoking ban police to raid defiant pub

HEALTH officers will today raid a Galway pub which has become the first to openly flout the smoking ban introduced in March.

Ciaran Levanzin, who along with Ronan Lawless runs Fibber Magees pub in Eyre Square, said business has fallen by 63% and he has no choice but to take on the authorities.

"It was either do this or lay off the staff and go out of business," Mr Levanzin said yesterday. "I was applauded by customers when I put the ashtrays back out."