CITY PUB THREATENED WITH 12 MILLION EURO FINE OVER FLAGS

Date Published: 27-Mar-2008

A city pub has been ordered to remove flag poles outside its front premises immediately or face a 12.7 million euro fine or two years imprisonment.Galway city council has sent a letter to Murty Rabbittes pub on Forster Street warning that the flag poles are unauthorised under the Planning Act 2000.They've been given four weeks to apply for planning permission but must remove the flags in the meantime. The letter, seen by Galway Bay fm News, warns the pub owners they could face a fine of up to 12 million euro or to two years in prison or both, if they're found guilty of an offence under the Planning Act. The pub managment claims the flag poles, which include the Tricolour and the European Union flag, have been in place for several decades.Murty Rabbitts Manager, Ciaran Hanly, is adamant the flag poles are staying put.