An application by a Dublin lapdancing club that was raided by gardaí last Saturday for bar extensions this weekend has been rejected by Dublin District Court.
Nine women and a man were arrested during the Garda operation at the Honeyz club in Capel Street. All were subsequently released, expect for one woman who is in custody awaiting deportation. The raid was undertaken under Operation Quest, the ongoing investigation targeted at human trafficking, illegal employment and racketeering.
Detectives from the Garda National Immigration Bureau, as well as stations in Store Street and the Bridewell, carried out the search on Saturday night.
The club today applied for three special exemptions to allow it to serve drink late this weekend.
However, gardaí objected to both the exemptions and the premises' dance licence.
Inspector Tim McCarthy said he had been "basically told a pack lies" by the club owners when they first sought licences to operate. He said he had three witnesses - the owner of the premises, a local resident and detective inspector who executed the warrant under which the club was raided - who would object to the licence renewal.
Judge Timothy Crowley refused a plea to grant the extensions for this weekend and set March 25th for a full hearing into the club's dance licence.