‘Slaughter House’ pub closed over violence

A pub which a judge said he is aware is known locally as “The Slaughter House” has been closed for five days because of a series of violent incidents.

Judge Seamus Hughes yesterday closed The Stillery on Dominick St, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, after being told a number of incidents had taken place there.

Judge Hughes warned publican Derek Martin that there would be further closures if he did not get his house in order.

The closure order came into effect at 6pm yesterday and will continue until 6pm next Wednesday.

Mr Martin leased the premises in the town centre last November. He agreed by consent to the closure order.

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Insp Jarlath Folan said there had been a number of violent incidents in or outside the premises. Five particular matters were being investigated and files would be sent to the DPP.

Insp Folan said there was no Garda objection when an interim licence was granted to Derek Martin in November; the incidents being investigated had arisen since then.

Judge Hughes said that while he only visited Mullingar infrequently, he knew the premises in question was known locally as The Slaughter House because it was the scene of numerous incidents.

He said the fact the publican was not objecting to the closure illustrated that even Mr Martin knew the premises was not being run properly. Judge Hughes said it was “unheard of” for a publican not to object to the closure of his premises but it was clear that Martin knew he was not running his pub properly.

He warned the publican he had a duty “to discharge your clients in sober form” and not send them out “intoxicated to the eyeballs”.

Judge Hughes said Mr Martin had to have care for the health of his clients and ensure they did not “fall in the gutter or get into fights” when they left his premises.

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