A roguish bachelor bar owner whom Kenmare ladies found irresistible was finding it very difficult to clear his premises, Kenmare District Court was told on Friday.
James O’Connor (41), a bachelor, of O’Connors Bar, The Square, was before the court on allegations of serving drink after hours on two separate occasions last summer.
There were 100 people on the premises when gardaí called at 1.50am – over an hour after closing time – on June 2nd, 2014 during the June Bank Holiday weekend, Supt Flor Murphy said.
And around 28 were on his premises again after hours when gardaí called on August 23rd/24th, the court was told.
Judge James O’Connor said other people who wanted exemptions paid €400 and Mr O’Connor was not being fair.
“They weren’t all consuming alcohol. There is a strong social aspect to the premises – there is a social attraction there in that my client is a bachelor and young women find him very attractive,” his solicitor Pádraig O’Connell said.
His client was “a slight rogue,” the solicitor said.
To which Judge James O’Connor replied: “Most of your clients are rogues!”
Sgt Derek Fleming from Kenmare intervened and said: "The problem is he can't get them [the public] out at night – the premises is beside the Square Pint night club and they wait in his bar until it is time to go there," the sergeant said.
Judge O’Connor said the reason the sergeant put forward now explained why so many people would be in the premises in the middle of Kenmare town after closing time.
Gardaí withdrew the summons for August, on a plea of guilty for the bank holiday offence, Mr O’Connell said.
Judge O’Connor convicted and fined Mr O’Connor €200 on the June offence, with 10 days in default.