Adult cinema feels judge’s wrath

Date Published: 09-Jan-2009

THE landlord of a city building, currently being used as an unauthorised adult cinema by his tenants, was convicted of planning irregularities because the occupier could not be identified, when the matter came before Galway District Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that the premises at Unit 3, Liosban Industrial Estate, Tuam Road, was being used to house two cinemas and six single use video booths – it was meant to be for retail use only – and there was further unauthorised lighting and signage outside.

Solicitor for Galway City Council, Robert Meehan, told the court that there had been difficulty in identifying the occupier of the premises, and that previous efforts involving a Cork businessman had failed to resolve the issue.

He said that it was now believed that the premises was being run by an English company, and that this would present jurisdiction problems. He said that, in view of this, the Council felt they had no choice but to pursue the owner and landlord, R. Byrne Concrete Ltd., with an address at Victoria Place, Eyre Square.

Solicitor for the defendant, Lily O’Brien, had sought to have the matter adjourned, on the grounds that he was not responsible for what happened inside the premises, but Mr. Meehan said that the Council were anxious for the long-running matter to proceed.

Judge Mary Fahy remarked…