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A woman playing bingo at Rock Bingo in Cork, before its closure Gerard McCarthy Photography via Fuzion PR

Rock Bingo owner tells of heartbreak after shutdown

The Rock Bingo hall was closed last week after gardaí searched the premises under the Gaming and Lotteries Act. Its owner, James Barber, said the company have done nothing wrong.

THE CORK BINGO hall that was shut down despite a high court order will remain closed until the situation is resolved.

The Rock Bingo premises was shut after a last-minute garda raid last week, during which the gardaí seized the bingo books, operator Dave Barber told TheJournal.ie last week.

A garda spokesperson said that they searched the premises under the Gaming and Lotteries Act and that it was up to the courts to determine if the company had breached any part of the act.

A devastated James Barber, owner of the operation, said today:

This is a crushing blow for everyone here at Rock Bingo, my team, our newly recruited staff, our catering company and of course our customers. Last Thursday when we opened was the first time I was able to relax in months and to be honest it has really taken a big toll on myself and my family.

The company obtained an emergency order in the High Court last week that restrained gardaí from “obstructing or hindering” any lottery on their premises.

The move came after gardaí entered the premises on Tuesday 1 November and seized the books to prevent the operation from opening.

The owners said that the gardaí did not give them notice that they would be searching the premises.

Today, the Rock Bingo owners said that following the decision from the High Court on Saturday, they were told a warrant for seizure was about to be applied for to the District Court, and that such a warrant would be sought every day until the High Court hearing.

That hearing is scheduled for 21 November.

Barber said that the company “have done nothing wrong, we have created 30 jobs, we have charity partners who will benefit from the business and we are providing a safe and secure, alcohol-free environment for Cork people to have a fun and inexpensive night out, but the local Garda authorities seem to be determined to shut down our operation”.

I felt like I had done something terrible as I watched the Gardaí come to our business and take our bingo books away on our planned opening night. In a lifetime of business in Cork this has never happened to me before.

Barber said that the company have operated totally within the law and that they have “invested huge money in modern premises that meets all the required comforts and legislations, and we have secured the charity beneficiary partners in the right manner”.

He even invited local authorities to attend the Friday night of bingo “to see firsthand that we are offering nothing except good clean fun in a safe environment”.

When asked about next steps Barber said he is making a personal plea to the local authorities to come meet with the company again, “inspect our operation and see that we are good, law abiding citizens operating a totally legitimate business”.

The 1,000-seat Rock Bingo venue is located at the old Waters Glass premises in Togher, Cork.

Fans of Rock Bingo took to its Facebook page to express their disappointment, with some calling for a petition against the closure to be set up.

Read: Bingo operators vow to stage comeback after garda raid>

Read: New bingo hall creates 30 jobs in Cork>

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8 Comments
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    Mute Ray James Franco Browne
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:54 PM

    In my bedroom/living room in front of my tv because I live in a bedsit. If I had a separate dining room I would eat there, just to have something different.

    269
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:31 PM

    @Ray James Franco Browne:

    That’s a bit like me. I usually have my breakfast in the breakfast room, my lunch in the sunroom and my dinner in the dining room. Our breakfast room is currently under refurbishment so I now have to eat my breakfast in the dining room! It’s like a madhouse at the moment! I’ve put Geoffrey on notice and told him that I don’t know how much longer I can put up with it

    378
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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:59 PM

    Usually have my dinner in the alley behind McDonald’s. You’d be surprised with how many perfectly good chicken mcnuggets they leave in the dumpsters back there.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:25 PM

    but how many “kitchen-eaters” have a telly in their kitchen or use their phone/tablet/laptop??

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:59 PM

    @Matt Connolly: ah but that’s not the question being asked .. that makes for a whole different poll .

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Aug 1st 2017, 7:41 PM

    @Matt Connolly: I don’t it’s a good time to talk with your family

    1
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    Mute ktsiwot
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:47 PM

    In the kitchen, in the middle of the day.

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    Mute Jamie
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:02 PM

    In the toilet

    56
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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:08 PM

    @Jamie: That’s not surprising Jamie. It’s been quite obvious from your comments that you dwell in a toilet. Most trolls do…

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    Mute George Salter
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:37 PM

    @Harry Corry: I thought trolls preferred under bridges? Or is The Billy Goats Gruff a myth like Santa?!

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    Mute mark kenny
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:10 PM

    @Harry Corry:

    Just a thought,but why do people reoly to trolls?

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    Mute mark kenny
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:18 PM

    @mark kenny:

    * reply

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    Mute @UK
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:27 PM

    What’s a dining room?
    In open plan living/kitchen areas most people probably eat at the table in front of the telly

    64
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    Mute Spilt Pint
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    Jul 31st 2017, 10:21 PM

    @UK; When I was growing up in our house we only really used it at Christmas. It was a room with a long table, sideboard for the china & silverware and a service hatch through from the kitchen. No TV or distractions and very old-fashioned.

    11
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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:59 PM

    Mind your own business it has nothing to do with you

    62
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    Mute Sean Kelly
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:09 PM

    @Alan Scott: I think your taking it a bit too literally. Its a poll. Don’t take it so seriously. For example I eat my dinner whilst on the jax in the middle of a cliffhanger. No need to be so aloof my friend…

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:14 PM

    @Sean Kelly: Just a bit of fun Sean on a Monday am. Don’t take me to seriously I am sorry to anyone who might have the same view as Sean. I will try and conduct myself on the next poll.

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:21 PM

    @Alan Scott: now I really do want to know where you eat your dinner.

    18
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    Mute Gordon Hughes
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:21 PM

    In my mouth most of the time . But there is the occassional “10 second rule” applied to food that managed to hit the deck first

    24
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:16 PM

    @Gordon Hughes: it’s a 5 second rule …

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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:31 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Not when you have a dog which makes it a split second rule.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:58 PM

    @Jho Harris: lol very true !

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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:40 PM

    @Jho Harris: well that’s just called ‘sharing’. But don’t let the dog get used to anything fancy. Don’t want them having notions because you dropped a bit of steak once!

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    Mute PaulOD
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:32 PM

    Off a plate

    21
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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:05 PM

    Slow news day.

    11
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    Mute Karl Bauer
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:33 PM

    I haven’t eaten dinner in about 4 years. Decent breakfast, Decent lunch, at most a cuppa with a bit of toast at dinner time.

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    Mute Don Juan
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:12 PM

    Standing up

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:45 PM

    tomorrow. “When do you usually poop?

    19
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:03 PM

    @Rui Firmino: Between 6:30 am and 7am. Before I have to leave for work.

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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:38 PM

    @Thomas Maher: not long after a coffee. Always greases the wheels.

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:40 PM

    @Thomas Maher: Me too!!

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    Mute Gerben Uunk
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:48 PM

    Skipping dinner included too? Breakfast is most important meal of the day anyways. A healthy lifestyle vital ! Our mental body is in a constant Go-Go mode, but our
    physicial structure requires some rest too, and no foods are needed a small while before sleep, often its just so-called comfort eating.

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    Mute gerry fallon
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    Jul 31st 2017, 6:43 PM

    On my lap!

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    Mute Danny Halpin
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    Jul 31st 2017, 6:32 PM

    It should always be eaten in kitchen

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:24 PM

    In my mouth.

    3
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    Mute Ronan Kealy
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    Jul 31st 2017, 6:10 PM

    On a plate.

    1
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:25 PM

    Don’t bother with dinner .

    1
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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:09 PM

    Off of a plate

    1
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Aug 1st 2017, 4:19 AM

    In the attic with sandals and a crude candle

    1
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    Mute Johanna Donohue
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    Jul 31st 2017, 9:46 PM

    In the bathroom

    1
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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Jul 31st 2017, 7:40 PM

    On my penny farthing sashaying through dalkey

    1
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    Mute Spilt Pint
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    Jul 31st 2017, 10:27 PM

    @Ken; I’d be curious to see someone sashay on a bike, it’s normally descriptive of walking/dancing.

    2
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