TO date there have been no prosecutions taken by Limerick County Council in relation to the offence of consuming intoxicating liquor in a public place.
However, 87 fines of €75 each, have been paid to the authority by those committing the offence, with 25 of these paid in 2010. The figures were revealed following a query by Cllr James Collins at the April meeting at County Hall.
The Bye Laws were adopted by the Council at a meeting in May 2007 and came into operation in July of that year, being imposed on the entire functional area of the the authority.
“A public place includes any public road, road way, footpath or road, any highway, cemetery, church, churchyard or the curtilage of any church, any premises, public open space, outdoor area or other place to which members of the public are permitted to access,” county secretary, Eugene Griffin, revealed in his response.
“These Bye-Laws were introduced by the council in the interest of the common good of local communities and to control or suppress nuisance arising from the consumption of intoxicating liquor in public places”.
The introduction of the law was recommended and supported by the gardaí, and are implemented by them, Mr. Griffin explained.
Fixed payment notices are issued to offenders by gardaí and an offender has 21 days in which to pay the fine to the council.
“Failure to pay the fine can result in prosecution.
“No prosecutions have been taken to date”.
