Allowing minors into entertainment spots is very serious - Chief Justice

The substitute owner of Empire Bar, in Paceville was fined €900 after the Court of Criminal Appeal found that the original judgment by which she was reprimanded was inadequate.

Louise Anne Fauré was found guilty of allowing 16-year-olds into the bar on January 20 and was subsequently given a warning. The Attorney General appealed and Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano reviewed the case finding that the case had been decided incorrectly.

The first court had applied the wrong article of the law that came into force in 1929 whereby minors were not allowed to enter bars where barmaids were employed. The Court of Criminal Appeal said that the first court should have applied article 124 of 1995 barring minors from bars, clubs or discos.

After taking into consideration the fact that Ms Fauré had already been found guilty of playing excessively loud music in the club on two occasions in August 2007 and allowing 16-year-olds into the club in February of this year, the court fined her €900. The Chief Justice said that allowing minors into such establishments should be taken very seriously.