Good Friday ruling referred to AG too late to have effect

A PROCESS has commenced to get advice from the Attorney General on whether to appeal the court decision to allow Limerick pubs open on Good Friday for a big rugby game.

However, due to the timescale involved in this process, any decision by the chief state solicitors office and the Attorney General will not impact on the District Court ruling to allow pubs open for the game, as it will take a number of months.

The consultative process between Limerick Gardaí and the Attorney General’s office would involve the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Limerick State Solicitor’s office.

Limerick State Solicitor, Michael Murray, on behalf of the Gardaí, objected to the exemption being granted on Good Friday, contending that the Magners League game between Munster v Leinster was not a special event.

A special event is not defined in the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962, under which the publicans applied.

Mr Murray said that as Munster and Leinster meet every year in Thomond Park, it was not a singular special event.

Mr Murray has passed on a report to the Garda authorities, and the Chief State Solicitors Office.

Over coming weeks it will be decided whether or not to launch an appeal.

Publicans’ solicitor, Gearóid McGann, contended that the game was a special event, given the numbers of people it would draw to the city and its importance in the Irish rugby calendar.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said that it would be absurd to have drink available to 26,000 people in Thomond Park, while local pubs would be prevented from opening.

Accordingly, he granted the exemption application.