Dogs & Cigarette Sales Lead To Court

Belfast City Council has been busy enforcing legislation on a variety of matters, ranging from shopkeepers selling tobacco to underage customers to dog owners running foul of the law.

Laura Clements, of The Alexander, in Skipper Street in the city centre, was ordered to pay court costs of £69 in relation to the offence that also attracted a £500 fine for selling cigarettes to someone under 18.

It followed a test purchasing exercise that was carried out at the shop on March 19th.

Belfast City Council was also behind a case where seven men were fined for drinking alcohol in public.

Christopher Carlin from Rosnareen Avenue in west Belfast was fined a total of £80 after he was detected drinking alcohol at Shaws Road on April 21 and Tullymore Gardens on April 22 of this year. He was also ordered to pay costs of £69.

Gerard McHenry from Oakman Street in the west of the city was fined £50 after he was found drinking alcohol on the Donegall Road on March 13 2011. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £66.

Kieran Walsh from Divis Drive was fined £50 and ordered to pay costs of £66 after he was detected drinking alcohol at Slievegallion Drive on April 23 2011.

Kieran Dempsey from Clonard Crescent was fined £50 and ordered to pay court costs of £66 after he was detected drinking alcohol on the Falls Road on April 26 this year.

David McMahon and Paul Mulryne from Lenadoon Avenue in west Belfast were fined £50 each with £60 respective court costs after being found drinking alcohol at Lenadoon Avenue on April 22 2011.

Dwyne McAlynn from Grove Park in Enniskillen was fined £50 and ordered to pay costs of £66 after being detected drinking alcohol in Carmel Street in the city centre on March 17 this year.

Meanwhile, three dog owners have been prosecuted by Belfast City Council.

Danielle McVeigh from Cavendish Street in west Belfast was fined £30 for not having a licence for her dog. She was also ordered to pay court costs of £66.

Karen Russell from Benburb Street was fined £25 for failing to have a licence for her dog and was also ordered to pay costs of £66.

Michelle Lavery from Sliabh Dubh View in west Belfast was fined £30 and ordered to pay court costs of £66 for allowing her dog to stray on 24 February this year.

(BMcC/GK)