Kerry County GAA chairman fined over after-hours crowd in pub

The chairman of the Kerry County GAA board, Patrick O’Sullivan, has been fined €175 after gardaí found “200 people” in the Tatler Jack Bar in Killarney almost two hours after closing time on the night of last year’s county final.

Mr O’Sullivan, aged 46, of The Tatler Jack, Plunkett St, yesterday pleaded guilty at Killarney District Court to unlawfully permitting 150 people on his premises after hours on Oct 29, 2012. Other alleged breaches of the licensing acts on the night were withdrawn or struck out.

Supt Flor Murphy told the court how at 2.25am gardaí entered through the rear of the pub and found “200 people” on the premises. Closing time was 12.30am, he said.

Eoin Brosnan, former Kerry senior football captain and solicitor for Mr O’Sullivan, said the date in question had been the Sunday of the October bank holiday weekend and 12.30am was the closing time, but patrons had until 1am to leave.

His client’s licence had not been regularised at the time and so he could not apply for a special exemption on the night.

It was the night of the county final (in which Dr Crokes, of Killarney, beat Dingle) and a local team was involved and there was local interest, said Mr Brosnan.

His licensing was now all regularised, he said. A number of other alleged breaches of the licensing laws, including allowing music and singing without the appropriate licence, allowing liquor to be consumed, and non-production of intoxicating liquor licence, were struck out or withdrawn.

Judge James O’Connor convicted Mr O’Sullivan and fined him €175.