A PUB landlord was ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service for trading without a licence.

Pat Ring (62) of the Dew Drop Inn, Peake, Coachford, was charged with trading without a licence on three separate occasions.

Mr Ring was also charged with verbal abuse for calling an officer a c*** and a ‘Dublin Butcher’ following a licence check on November 12th 2023 at around 2am. That night, Mr Ring also told gardaí to come back with a warrant next time.

On December 9th 2023 at 8pm, a garda checked again at the pub and saw a number of people drinking stout at the bar. When the garda asked a family member of Mr Ring for the pub licence, the woman behind the bar said she could not find it.

On December 16th at 8.20pm gardaí found three men sitting at the bar at The Dew Drop Inn with pints in front of them. Mr Ring’s daughter was working behind the bar and when asked to show the licence certificate she said she did not know where it was. The officer asked people to leave, and returned to the pub at 9pm. He saw it was still open at the time, and the same again at 10.50pm with two customers still there. On December 21st 2023 a warrant was executed and gardaí seized a large amount of liquor.

Defence solicitor Jack Purcell, said his client is currently receiving benefits. He added: ‘He has a history of having mental health problems in bursts. He also has a tendency to dig himself in deeper with his own words.’

The court heard that Mr Ring has several previous convictions, including for assault, public order and road traffic offences.

Judge Joanne Carroll said: ‘You have displayed shocking behaviour towards Gardaí. It shows total disregard for the law.’  She directed him to carry out 100 hours of community service in-lieu of three months in prison. Judge Carroll said: ‘There are plenty of landlords in difficult circumstances and they still respect the law and operate with a licence.’

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.