Cork football legend fined €2,500 for illegal spirits

THE city centre bar belonging to Cork football legend turned publican Larry Tompkins has been fined €2,500 for housing undeclared cross-border bottles of spirits.

Customs officials, a court heard yesterday, inspected Larry Tompkins bar “on receipt of information” on May 28, 2009.

Customs inspector Tom Farrell told Cork District Court a number of bottles of spirits with the British tax stamp scratched away were found in the downstairs bar.

More bottles were found upstairs in the premises, again with the stamp removed. Mr Farrell said he spoke to Larry Tompkins and cautioned him.

Mr Tompkins confirmed the bar was in the name of JBW Agencies and that he and his wife Orla were directors of the licensed premises in Lavitt’s Quay.

Mr Farrell said the former footballer confirmed he had bought the alcohol in the north from North West Distributors.

Mr Tompkins produced a receipt for the customs official showing he had purchased €4,327 worth of alcohol from that location.

“He said he thought it was legitimate,” said Mr Farrell, adding that Mr Tompkins told him the alcohol was to be used for house parties and the optics in the bar. Mr Tompkins told the official he had scratched away the labels because he did not want his own supplier to know about it.

Mr Tompkins’ solicitor Tony O’Brien said the former footballer had given total cooperation during the matter. The court was told he produced the receipt which had more alcohol on it than was found during the inspection. Mr O’Brien said this was a once-off matter for his client.

Judge Leo Malone imposed a fine of €2,500. Mr Tompkins was not in court.