Publicans seek Good Friday opening

LIMERICK’S publicans were last night accused of “megaphone diplomacy” which may have disrupted efforts to get garda approval to open on Good Friday so as to cater for fans who will throng the city for the Munster and Leinster rugby game at Thomond Park.

Publican leaders had flagged that a meeting would take place yesterday with Chief Superintendent Dave Sheehan at Henry Street garda headquarters, but sources said gardaí first learned of any such meeting through the media.

A spokesperson for Chief Supt Sheehan said he had not arranged any meeting with publicans for yesterday, although he met them last Thursday, having received a request for that meeting.

The publicans group at that meeting was led by Jerry O’Dea, head of the Limerick Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), and Dave Hickey, the Limerick representative on the VFI national executive.

The publicans say they have got legal advice that would open the way to pubs getting an exemption to open under a “special event” clause in the law.

Pubs are not allowed open on Good Friday, but Thomond Park’s bars will be allowed serve alcohol as it is a place of entertainment.

Mr Hickey said at their meeting with Chief Supt Sheehan last Thursday they put a submission to him based on legal advice they had received from their legal advisers in Dublin.

“We feel that the advice we have on the matter from our legal people is strong enough to enable the garda authorities to allow an application for exemptions in the district court.”

Mayor Kevin Kiely, a former publican, has drawn up a letter of support which he said, he intends to send to Judge Tom O’Donnell, endorsing the publicans wish to open on Good Friday.

The VFI are seeking an exemption to open from 6pm to 12 midnight; the game kicks off at 8.05pm.

The organisers of the league switched the game from the original day, Easter Saturday, to Good Friday, to give both teams a seven-day turnaround for the Heineken Cup quarter finals the following week.

Limerick Chamber estimate that Heineken Cup games are worth in excess of €10 million to the city and the chamber says this game will be worth the same, given that it will involve Munster and Leinster.