Objection For Sale

There was intensive local, and national, media coverage recently surrounding the application for the annual renewal of the dance licence for Whispers Nite Club at the Square. The club, regretably, was the scene of a tragedy 12 months ago when an 18 year old fell to his death from a fire escape. He had gone out onto the fire escape to smoke and fell from the railing on which he had been sitting.

The mother of the young man objected to the renewal in the Dundalk District Court and Judge Flann Brennan refused the application, with the result that the club was closed, with the loss of livelihood for some people.

The owner, Bernard Conlon, successfully appealed the decision to the Circuit Court before Judge Michael O'Shea. Counsel for the appellant, explained that neither the gardai, nor the fire authorities, opposed the licence being granted, and a fire door had been added to the smoking area to make it safer.

What had not been discovered by the media, and presumably something which neither Judge was aware of, is the fact that the mother of the youth was willing to withdraw her objection to the licence in return for the sum of €125,000. That is in addition to the insurance claim already in process.