Publicans defy ban to stop falling trade

GALWAY publicans who claim their business is falling off because of the smoking ban may have to fork out a €3,000 fine for flaunting the law and possibly face losing their licence in an open challenge to health authorities.

The well-known Fibber Magees pub in Eyre Square Galway has sparked the first challenge to the controversial legislation by allowing patrons to smoke in three of its four sections.

Smoking was only prohibited in the area in which food is served as the pub became the first in the country to openly challenge the new anti-smoking laws, which came in at the end of March.