Council bans casinos and arcades by rescinding law

NO casinos or gaming arcades can be opened in a Co Cork town after a local authority moved for the first time to rescind legislation on gambling.

Cork County Council members yesterday voted unanimously to rescind Part 3 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act (1956) to prevent such businesses being opened in Carrigaline.

The move came after local residents objected en masse to a recent application by a private company to locate a casino in the town centre.

The company was eventually refused permission to open by the District Court and the Circuit Court but, on foot of the council’s action, no further applications can be made to the courts again.

Cllr Paula Desmond (Lab), a solicitor, said it became apparent at the Circuit Court hearing the county council had the power to rescind the legislation.

“It was only then that we [councillors] discovered this power was in our remit,” she said. “We had to be very careful though, because we had to select the exact townlands involved in order to rescind the legislation which allows companies to apply for gaming licenses through the courts.”

She said that the community association in Carrigaline had asked local councillors to rescind the legislation and that they were happy to do it.

Hundreds of people living in Carrigaline signed a petition against the opening of a casino there.

At yesterday’s meeting in County Hall a number of councillors spoke in favour of rescinding the act.

Cllr John A Collins (FG), who runs a shop in the town, seconded Cllr Desmond’s motion. Support for the move also came from Cllrs Seamus McGrath (FF), Deirdre Forde (FG) and the Mayor of Co Cork, Cllr Tim Lombard (FG).

There were no objections and the decision was taken to rescind the law, which came into immediate effect.

After the meeting, Ms Desmond said that if other community groups around the county wanted to keep their towns or villages free from casinos or gaming arcades they could lobby their local public representatives to rescind the legislation.

“This is the first time that the act has been rescinded by Cork County Council,” she said. “Any community, if it wants to, can seek to have the same done. Rescinding the act prevents a judge from being able to issue a gaming licence.”