Druids Glen Hotel does not need public liability insurance for dance licence, court rules

Neville Hotels, which owns the hotel along with three others, had public liability cover in place up to May 2020 before it decided to self-insure the four hotels

When Neville Hotels applied to the District Court for the renewal of the Druids Glen dance licence, which is required for events like weddings, it argued it did not need to show it had a public liability policy because it had sufficient liquidity, assets and reserves to fully self-insure against risks and claims. File photo: Mike Stephens/PA

A hotel which self-insures against accident claims is not required to have public liability insurance in place when an application for a licence to permit dancing on the premises is made, the High Court has ruled.

Mr Justice Conor Dignam found that the District Court, which deals with such applications, has the power either to impose or not to impose a condition that public liability policy be in place once it has heard evidence as to the financial circumstances of the applicant hotel.