Galway publican in court over alleged breach of Covid regulations

A North Galway publican is the first in the county to face criminal proceedings for alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations.

The case against Tom Kelly was adjourned at Tuam Court this week, to its April sitting for either a plea of guilty or a date for hearing.

The criminal proceedings have been taken against Mr Kelly with an address of Corohan, Tuam, who is the proprietor of Tierney’s of Foxhall. It was on foot of an inspection carried out by Garda Rudy Kelly.

The defendant is charged with breaching a regulation to prevent, limit, minimise or slow the spread of Covid-19. It relates to an alleged breach that occurred on August 30 last year.

The same defendant had been the subject of an objection to his licence by Garda Inspector John Dunne at previous sittings of Tuam Court – along with two other licensed premises in the North Galway area.

The Garda Inspector had opposed the renewal of these licences for what he said were breaches of Covid guidelines, during the course of inspections carried out when the situation was relaxed during the course of 2020.

Defending solicitor Eric Gleeson said that his client would be entering a guilty plea but pointed out that Kelly had made a €500 contribution to charity as a result of the renewal of his licence being opposed by the Gardaí.

However, Judge James Faughnan said that criminal proceedings was completely different to an objection to a licence. He said that despite a guilty plea being indicated, he needed to hear the circumstances of the offence which he described as being very serious.

“It is completely difference when there are criminal proceedings in place and it is a very different situation to a Garda objection to the renewal of a licence,” he said.

“I am treating such situations with the utmost of seriousness given the circumstances that are currently in place. This is a criminal matter that will have to be outlined before the court,” Judge Faughnan added, as he adjourned the case to the April 27 sitting of Tuam District Court.