High Court orders Cork restaurant to close
The High Court has ordered the shutting of a respected Cork restaurant following the owner’s refusal to comply with a closure order from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The Ivory Tower, run by chef Seamus O'Connell, was issued with the FSAI order on November 24.
The restaurant continued to operate despite the serving of the closure order, leading to the High Court application today, a statement from the FSAI said.
“We are pleased the High Court upheld the use of a closure order to enforce food legislation and protect public health," said Professor Alan Reilly, FSAI chief executive.
"Most of the 50,000 food businesses operating in Ireland comply with food safety legislation and cooperate with the FSAI and the food safety inspectors.
"However, for the few who continue to ignore their legal responsibility to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations, this High Court decision should serve as a warning that non-compliance with enforcement orders will not be tolerated.”
The court ordered Mr O’Connell to pay the costs of the application, and granted him liberty to apply to court in the event that matters are rectified.
Mr O’Connell — who announced in September 2010 that he was planning to sell off the restaurant at Princes Street — has featured on a number of television programmes since he opened the country’s first gastropub, the 1601 in Kinsale, in 1989.
