Man disputes charge of running Covid lockdown shebeen not far from Laois

A man contested allegations that he ran a shebeen, also known as an illegal pub, in his back-garden shed during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Eamon Cleary, with an address at Kilnagornan, on the Green Road near Kildare town, was accused of running the shebeen on on New Years Eve of 2020.

The offences that gardaí claim were allegedly committed by the 59-year-old would be in contravention of the Health Act, 1947 — specifically, Section 12 and 13; 31A of the Temporary Restrictions (Covid-19) Regulations Act, 2020 — in addition to Section 26 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1962.

Gardaí told Judge Desmond Zaidan on Thursday, January 19, that when gardaí arrived at the alleged shebeen in Mr Cleary's back garden, it was attended by four other people.

Three of the four pleaded guilty to attending the shebeen, while the fourth person was absent from the courthouse.

Garda Sergeant Brian Jacob said that there was no social distancing being observed at the shebeen, no logbook to record details was being kept, and there were no sanitisation stations present.

He also said that, although the case focused on the New Year's Eve incident, there was at least one other visit to the shebeen on a separate date.

Upon being shown photographic evidence of the shebeen, Judge Zaidan remarked: "Oh my goodness... it looks like a bomb hit the place!

"It’s not the cleanest of places, is it?" he added.

However, the judge remarked that the attendants were 'of good character', and fined the three defendants who pleaded guilty €750 each.

He also granted bail for Mr Cleary and the other absent accused until their cases return to the court for hearing on May 11.