A leading Donegal hotel has had several charges against it dismissed under smoking laws after a Judge said it was an ‘extremely well-run establishment.’
The Redcastle Hotel
The HSE took the case under Tobacco legislation laws against the Redcastle Hotel in Inishowen.
HSE employee Meabh Costelloe visited the hotel during a wedding on June 14th , 2013.
On the first visit there was nobody in the glazed area.
However, on a second visit two people were found smoking in the enclosed glazed area which measured three metres by three metres.
However Carndonagh District Court was told that this was NOT the designated smoking area for the hotel.
In fact, several precautions had been taken to ensure that patrons knew this was not the designated smoking area.
The actual designated patio area for smoking was a short distance away.
Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said these included the erection of signs, regular fifteen minute patrols by staff and also a memo to staff telling them where the designated smoking area was.
He said that all reasonable measures had been taken to ensure people knew the glazed area was not the designated smoking area.
Judge Paul Kelly said he found the hotel had complied fully and that it was ‘an extremely well-run establishment.’
He dismissed all the cases relating to the hotel.