Banner victory for Supermacs

A takeaway order with a difference landed Supermac’s in court yesterday. However, the fast food restaurant group emerged with a tasty victory after the hearing.

Pat McDonagh appeared at Galway District Court after Galway City Council summoned his company, Supermac’s Ireland Ltd, for illegally displaying a banner congratulating the Galway camogie team on their 2013 All-Ireland championship win.

Solicitor for the council, Edward Molloy, said Supermac’s was in breach of local planning laws which prohibited the erection of advertising banners or signs on buildings.

Initially, an enforcement notice was served on April 30 last year in relation to a large banner which advertised Supermac’s full Irish breakfast on his restaurant at 36 Eyre Square, Galway. Supermac’s failed to take the banner down within the seven days allowed. Council planning enforcement officer, Brian O’Connell, told the court the banner was still up on May 10. When the site was revisited in October, it had been replaced with one congratulating the team.

Defence solicitor Michael Ryan said Supermac’s admitted breach of the laws in relation to the original advertising banner, but that the second banner was an unrelated matter.

Judge Mary Fahy said it would be “inequitable’” to convict Supermac’s on the latter sign. She said she had no problem “aesthetically” with the new sign, but she urged Mr McDonagh not to use “such garish advertising” as the breakfast advert on his restaurant. She said a lot of people did not want to see images of “sausages, rashers, and black puddings, given the problems we have in this country”.

Both parties were instructed to pay their own legal costs.