Nightclubs vow to fight gardaí on opening hours

AN emergency meeting of nightclub owners held in Dublin yesterday to combat plans by gardaí to limit club opening hours heard that nightclubs will be put out of business if they are not allowed to open beyond 1.30am.

Robbie Fox of the Irish Nightclub Industry Association and owner of Reynards in Dublin, said he was extremely worried at reports senior gardaí were planning to lodge objections when special exemption orders for club licences come up for annual review this week.

Senior members of the force in Dublin met on Friday to consider public order issues arising from late night drinking. Nightclubs operate under the normal licensing laws for pubs, but have to seek special exemption orders to allow them to stay open later, sometimes until 4.30am.