Belturbet pub refused licence for Christmas night shindig

A well-known Belturbet hostelry was refused a bar exemption for Christmas night when the proprietor applied for one at a sitting of Cavan District Court last week from 12.01am to 2am. Dooncrelland Limited (The Seven Horseshoes) was told by Judge Sean MacBride that it was not much asking of publicans to observe two days in the year (Christmas and Good Friday) when drink should not be sold in their premises. "There is a little bit of greed creeping in when people are looking for exemptions one minute after midnight on a Christmas night," said the judge. Continuing Judge MacBride said that Christmas Day was sacrosanct and should be a family day. "Surely people can do without drink for two days in the year." Francis Cahill, proprietor, said he had seven bedrooms as well as a function room, which can cater for 200 people on his premises. Over the last ten years he had applied for exemptions for a minute past midnight on Christmas night going into St. Stephen's Day. "I have a band booked for the night and paid €600 for them. I have also advertised the night as well," he said. Judge MacBride said when he came to Cavan he made it very clear that he would not be granting exemptions on Christmas night. "It's an absolute affront to look for one." The judge said he was sorry that Mr. Cahill had booked a band for the night but he was not granting the exemption. He told Mr. Cahill that he would grant him an exemption on another night so that he would not lose out. "If I grant an exemption to Mr. Cahill, I will have to grant exemptions to everyone." He told Mr. Cahill that he would him an exemption for Easter Sunday night, April 4, from 11pm to 2am, which Mr. Cahill accepted.