Supermac's Pat McDonagh prosecuted over sign in place for over seven years
Gordon Deegan
Supermac’s Managing Director, Pat McDonagh, is being prosecuted for an alleged unauthorised Supermac’s company sign “in need of a refresh” that has been in situ for more than seven years, a court has heard.
At Gort District Court, after looking at Galway County Council photos of the sign, Judge Alec Gabbett commented that “this sign is very old and is in need of a refresh”.
In response, solicitor for Mr McDonagh and Supermac's Ireland Ltd, John Nash, told Judge Gabbett that the sign in question in the townland of Castletown, Co Galway, has been in place for more than seven years.
He said: “That is one of the points I will be making when the case is heard and there is more in my armoury than that.”
Mr McDonagh and Supermac's Ireland Ltd are contesting the Council prosecution and Mr Nash said that “at this stage I don’t want to be showing my cards to the opposition.”
Judge Gabbett told Mr Nash: “Your client operates licensed premises and runs very popular establishments around the country - what is the problem here that he can’t abide with planning?”
In response, Mr Nash said: “He believes that he does abide with planning.”
Mr Nash requested an adjournment as an “essential witness” in the case, Michael Rabbitte, is unable to attend the court as he is out of the country.
Earlier this year, Mr Nash issued a witness summons for Mr Rabbitte to attend court and told the court previously: “I understand that he is aggrieved by the sign - that is my understanding.”
Galway County Council was ready to proceed on Thursday with the case, but Judge Gabbett acceded to Mr Nash’s application for an adjournment.
Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to February 26th. He said: “It is on, all duck or no dinner, it is on.”
Judge Gabbett said that in the meantime, the two sides “could work it out - it is not that big a problem.”
The court summons issued to Mr McDonagh of Supermacs, Ballybrit Park, Galway says that a complaint has been made that on November 26th 2024 in the townland of Castletown he did commit an offence by failing to comply with an Enforcement Notice dated 24th October 2024.
The summons states that the enforcement notice required Mr McDonagh to carry out the following: cease the development being a development for which no permission has been granted, and cease the use of the framed structure for advertising within seven days.
The Enforcement Notice also required Mr McDonagh to remove the advertising signage and dispose of it in accordance with the current Waste Management Act.
