A Laois pub faces closure after its application for a licence renewal was rejected last week.
Lennon’s Bar, in Durrow in Laois, saw their application opposed to by Gardai – who highlighted what they say were allegations of ‘a number of Covid-19 breaches’.
These, according to Gardai, have taken place ‘over the last ten months’.
A Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána objected to the renewal of a publican’s license for a premises in County Laois at Portlaoise District Court on January 15 (Friday).
“This was in relation to a number of alleged breaches of Covid Health guidelines over the past 10 months.”
According to the Sunday World, Mark Lennon, who owns the bar, intends to appeal the decision in the Circuit Court.
Gardai have objected to the renewal of licences at a number of public houses in recent months.
Ted Lavelle’s Public House in Cashel, Achill Island, was the first to suffer such a fate back in September 2020.
While the infamous Berlin D2 on Dame Lane in Dublin city centre, where video on social media showed people dancing in the venue, during a brunch event, as a member of staff stood on the bar and poured the contents of a bottle into the mouths of several people, also had its licence renewal objected to.
A court case in relation to it was adjourned in October and is due to take place this month.
All pubs have been shut around the country since Christmas Eve following a government decision in a bid to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.
That decision is to be received at the end of this month, but with case numbers remaining stubbornly high, the speculation is that it could be Easter before any easing of restrictions on the hospitality industry are introduced.
LaoisToday’s contacted Mr Lennon for comment but have so far been unsuccessful.
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