By Elaine McFadden
elaine@letterkennypost.com
The refusal by the District Court to provide three Letterkenny premises and one Ballybofey premises with extended opening licenses for the month of March, including Saint Patrick’s weekend, did not arise out of a request by the Joint Policing Committee.
That was according to Chairman of the Committee, Cllr Damien Blake who clarified the issue at this week’s Letterkenny Town Council meeting, after misconstrued reports suggested otherwise.
The decision was taken by Judge Desmond Zaiden who accepted objections which were raised by Superintendant Vincent O’Brien, who cited discussions by the JPC on the matter of late openings.
However, according to Cllr Blake, the issue is more of an ongoing discussion with the Policing Committee and although the support of the JPC was referred to in the court ruling, it was not within the Committee’s power to make any such application to the courts.
“It is not in the remit of the Joint Policing Committee to make any such application and it has not been made,” Cllr Blake told the chamber.
“The application was made under the sole authority of the Superintendant and the JPC had no authority to make any court ruling.
Letterkenny’s Joint Policing Committee is a consultative body, established to help the community and local reps work closely with the Gardaí. Following this consultation, all decisions on operational matters fall to the Gardaí. This includes making objections in regards to reduced closing hours of Nightclubs.”
Cllr Gerry McMonagle, also a member of the Committee said that the Superintendant should think before he speaks.
“This was discussed by the JPC but no motion or support of a motion was made. It is an ongoing discussion, but we haven’t decided anything yet and I would ask the Superintendant to think before he speaks,” Cllr. McMonagle said.