Cork publican showed 'total disrespect for the law' by trading without a licence

The defendant was also charged with one count of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour

Gardaí caught the publican serving alcohol at the Dew Drop Inn on three separate dates in 2023. File photo

A Cork publican has been convicted on three separate counts of trading without an intoxicating liquor licence.

Macroom District Court heard that Pat Ring, aged 62 of The Dew Drop Inn, Peake, Coachford, Co. Cork, was charged with trading without a licence at the the Dew Drop Inn on three separate dates. He was also charged with one count of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told the court that on November 11, 2023, gardaí attended the Dew Drop Inn at 1.53am where up to 30 people where observed drinking in the bar area, many with with full drinks though the bar was not licensed. 

The court heard that Ring “displayed a poor attitude” when he was told to clear the premises.

Garda Paul Cullen returned 10 minutes later to see if the pub was being cleared when Ring, who was described as “irate and aggressive”, began shouting abuse calling the garda a “c*n* and a Dublin butcher.” Ring added: “Next time you’d better have a warrant.”

On December 9, 2023, the Dew Drop Inn was open to the public again. At 8.23pm the door was open and “four or five” customers were inside drinking pints and a barman was observed serving a customer. When gardaí asked to see the licence for the premises it could not be found.

The pub was again observed open for business on December 16, 2023. On this occasion three males were drinking stout in the bar and a woman was serving behind the bar. When she was asked to produce a licence she told gardaí she did not know where it was. 

Gardaí returned twice to the pub in the same evening at 9pm and at 10.50pm and on both occasions patrons were observed inside drinking alcohol.

The court was told that Ring had lost his licence in 2020 and that on December 22, 2023, a warrant was obtained to confiscate alcohol from the premises. The court heard that Ring had 44 previous convictions, including three for contravention of licensing laws.

Defence solicitor, Jack Purcell, said as a self-employed person Ring had no access to social welfare supports and had opened the bar because he needed to earn money. 

He said  his client had a history of “going through bad spells” and then would be well behaved “for a number of years.” He said Ring had no excuse and was “trying to make a living”.

Judge Joanne Carroll said for the gardaí to call three times in one night and the pub was still serving customers showed “total disrespect for the law”. 

For the incidents in December 2023 as well as the public order offence, Ring was sentenced to 100 hours community service in lieu of three months in prison. The incident in November 2023 was taken into consideration.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.