Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Doorman challenges private security body's decision to revoke his licence

Date
2016-02-08

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Kilkenny

Summary

A 48‑year‑old former defence forces sergeant, Michael Tobin, has filed a High Court challenge to overturn a decision by the Private Security Authority to revoke his licence to work as a doorman. Tobin, who has worked as a doorman in Kilkenny and Clonmel and was employed at Matt the Millers Public House on New Year's Eve, was informed on 13 January that his licence had been revoked. He argues the revocation was fundamentally flawed, citing a lack of notification, no reasons given, and no opportunity to be heard. He seeks an order quashing the revocation, a declaration that the decision contravened natural justice and the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and that provisions of the 2004 Private Security Services Act are incompatible with those instruments. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is a notice party. The judge granted permission ex‑parte and set a later date for the case to be heard.