THE previous owners of a Belleek Chinese restaurant have been fined a total of £10,000 when their case was heard before Fermanagh Magistrates Court.

Neither of the two defendants, Xiang Li or Feng Liu, appeared before the court and both were convicted of the offences before the court on tendered evidence by District Judge Liam McNally.

The court heard the Golden Palace restaurant at Main Street, Belleek was inspected on January 20 this year and a follow-up inspection by public health inspectors was made on April 16. At this visit five offences were identified and a number of photographs were taken.

The inspectors found the premises were not being kept in good repair or condition, that raw materials and ingredients were not kept in a satisfactory condition, that there was no satisfactory facilities to wash hands, that food was being stored in unhygienic conditions and that raw food was being kept at room temperature.

Swabs and samples were taken from the premises and sent to the laboratory in Belfast. Three samples were found to be unsatisfactory containing bacteria potentially harmful to health.

The court also heard the defendants have since left the premises and that the premises now has new owners.

Sentencing, District Judge Liam McNally said the defendant's each were charged with five offences relating to the hygiene of the Golden Palace restaurant at Main Street, Belleek.

The judge said he would take into account the defendants were given a caution one year previously but otherwise had a clear record. He also took into account how the defendants had ignored the court proceedings and that they have now left the premises, which Judge McNally said was good news for the people of Belleek and for people passing through the village. The judge also said it was as bad a case as he had come across.

Referring to the evidence Judge McNally noted that raw chicken had been found defrosting in a dirty sink, that raw beef was found beside raw chicken, that shelves and woks were filthy and that chips were stored in a filthy box.

The Judge fined each of the defendants £1,000 on each of the charges giving a total fine of £10,000.