A judge yesterday granted a dance licence on condition that there is no dancing while the Special Criminal Court is sitting in Dublin.
Mr Martin Ring, a brother of Mayo Fine Gael TD Mr Michael Ring, is the proprietor of the Cameo/Claddagh Ring pub, across the road from the Special Criminal Court in Green Street, Dublin. He runs morning functions for night workers as one of the city's "early houses".
Gardaí had objected to granting a dance licence for the premises, claiming such early morning functions were disturbing local residents and affecting the running of the Special Criminal Court.
Mr Ring told the president of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, that he had to have functions in the morning because a lot of his business was done at this time.
Asked by the judge did people really dance at 9 a.m, he replied: "People do, from the night before. We get doctors and nurses; O'Dwyers' staff had their Christmas party yesterday morning."
These functions mostly took place on Saturday and Monday mornings, and Mr Ring was willing to stop the music at 11 a.m. so that it would not interfere with the increasingly regular Monday sittings of the court.
Dublin District Court heard yesterday that following discussions between gardaí and Mr Ring, agreement had been reached not to play music after 11 a.m., when the court sits. A noise limiter system is also to be used to ensure residents are not disturbed.
Judge Smithwick said the court did not sit every Monday, but there should be no dancing when it did. "I am willing to compromise," Mr Ring said.
"I have respect for the law because they do come in for a drink."
Garda Insp Tim McCarthy said he was also concerned for locals who lived over and around the premises, and he did not want the music to start at 7 a.m. as had been happening. Mr Ring undertook not to start the music before 9 a.m.
He said he had spent €14,000 on the sound limiter system which switched the music off if it went above a certain level. He recognised there was a problem with doors opening and music escaping, and he was in negotiations with Guinness to provide a shelter "around the corner" from the pub so that people would not make as much noise when they went in and out to smoke.
Judge Smithwick said the situation could be monitored, and if there continued to be serious nuisance to residents it could be raised at the annual licensing court in September.
"The applicant is trying, and we should give him a chance. It seems a very friendly place. I might go there myself," the judge added.
Mr Ring replied: "You are very welcome, and we will have stew there very soon."