Circuit Civil Appeal Court Grants Appeal to Pub in Dublin for Good Friday

The Circuit Civil Appeal Court has granted an appeal to allow a pub in Dublin an exemption to open late on Good Friday.

The appeal, on behalf of the Red Cow Inn, was against a district court refusal to grant the exemption even though the Oireachtas had amended the Intoxication Liquor Act this year allowing pubs to open on Good Friday.

In his judgment, President of the Circuit Court Ray Groarke said: “Good Friday was the same as any other Friday in the context of recent legislation, and if the legislator wanted it to be different in the licensing code that’s what they would have done”.

In closing there was no objection from gardaí, he allowed the appeal and granted the exemption as sought.

The case was seen as a test case on behalf of licensed premises in Dublin and the Licensed Vintners Association was in attendance.