Pub fined €4,000 for permitting smoking

A PUBLICAN was fined €4,000 yesterday for allowing smoking at his premises as he complained that it was hard to enforce the law because of the strident nature of his customers.

William Creagh had a designated smoking area at his pub, The Joshua Tree on 69/70 Blarney Street, Cork, but health inspectors visiting the pub found that the area set aside for smoking had four walls and a roof and was not open to external air.

Judge David Riordan said the defendant’s approach had bordered on defiance.