© The Donegal News - News Index

Archives	\|	District Notes	\|	Sport	\|	News	\|		Find a Home	\|	Your Tunes

- Fri, Oct 10, 2008

Archive Search

Newspaper

Services

Total Stories: 9 Published: Fri, Sep 26, 2008

Booze room kept at cool temperature in garda station

BY AMY ROSE HARTE

ROTTING alcohol has been taking up an entire cell in Letterkenny Garda Station since it was impounded from the Grill nightclub in March.

Over ¤200,000 worth of alcohol, most of which has gone off, is being stored in one of the station's six cells until the issue is resolved in the High Court. Garda sources say they have been keeping the cell at a cold temperature to preserve the stock, which consists of beer kegs, crates, alcopops, spirits and bottled beers.

Inspector Pat O'Donnell said some of the stock was already out-of-date when they seized it, but added Gardai had a duty to store it until the matter is resolved.

"Some of it has gone off, but there are a few bottles of whiskey that are still okay and we have a few kegs being stored outside but are within the security of the compound," Inspector O'Donnell explained.

"At the moment most of it is downstairs in a cell, but it is being moved into another cell soon as there are renovations going on in the station at the moment. The cells are being renovated one by one, so when that cell is being renovated, we'll move it into one of the ones that has been renovated and therefore get over the problem."

He added that the souring stock had not affected prisoner capacity in the station as the ongoing renovations meant all prisoners were currently being held at Milford Garda Station.

"The stock has been moved around a bit due to construction, but it isn't affecting anyone because health and safety reasons mean we aren't detaining anyone," he said.

"It's a matter for the courts and it is before the High Court at the moment, who will make the order when its going to be returned or destroyed," he said.

Gardai raided The Grill and Rouge nightclubs on March 12 and removed all alcohol from the premises to Letterkenny Garda Station. Up to 15 members of the force entered the adjoining nightclubs around 9pm armed with a warrant to remove all alcohol from the five bars on the premises.

The matter is expected to come before the High Court next month. In April, Mr Justice Michael Peart granted Mr Paul Mc Glinchey leave to judicially review the validity of the warrant used by An Garda Siochana to seize goods from his premises, The Golden Grill.

For more see the Donegal News online pdf editions

'Donegal News' to get a fresh look
Morris: The final reports
Council extends 'town centre' to Port Bridge
Major cuts expected in county council
Feisty and fit - and that's only the kids
Tinneys to reopen Grill soon
New political party for Letterkenny
Booze room kept at cool temperature in garda...
Dunfanaghy supermarkets battle takes new twist

Print Friendly
E-mail a friend

(Monday Edition)

(Friday Edition)

(DN & Sport)