‘Revellers taking part in fleadh’

The owner of a bar in Co Donegal claimed late-night revellers were taking part in a fleadh — which was on in a different county.

At 4am, gardaí called to the Diamond Bar in Raphoe on August 15 last and found more than a dozen revellers and a musician playing.

When gardaí asked owner Conor McGranaghan why the bar was still open, he said the fleadh was on. Garda Inspector Michael Harrison replied it was indeed on, but in Co Sligo. Judge Paul Kelly asked the accused’s solicitor: “Did they get lost?”

Solicitor Donagh Cleary said Mr McGranaghan and his father had been in the licensed trade for more than 50 years and had no previous convictions for after-hours drinking. He said there was a problem in the area with taxis. “He had earlier left a number of people home free of charge himself.”

The judge ordered Mr McGranaghan to donate €150 to charity.