Hygiene flaws cost restaurant€18,000
A CHINESE restaurant has been fined €18,000 for breaches of hygiene regulations following an investigation by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The Oriental Chinese restaurant on Main Street, Bruff, Co Limerick, was found by environmental health officers to have incurred 12 breaches of the regulations.
Solicitor for the HSE, Catherine Kiely offered evidence of the offences to Judge Mary O'Halloran at Bruff District Court through one of the environmental health officers.
The restaurant was inspected by officers in November 2007.
The court heard that the business had already received a warning letter following a previous inspection by the HSE in 2005.
Officers found that frozen chicken fillets were immersed in water in the food sink and left to thaw out. Chopping boards had been stored on the floor. There was no hot water in the kitchen and staff toilet and fridges and freezers had not been cleaned.
Judge O'Halloran imposed a fine of €1,500 on each of the 12 charges on the restaurant, leaving a total bill of €18,000 to be paid within six months. Costs were also awarded to the HSE.
- Barry Duggan
