[Article] Woman fined for operating illegal rugby tour

Victor

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Woman fined for operating illegal rugby tour
From:ireland.com
Thursday, 10th February, 2005

A woman who runs a creche in Limerick operated an illegal rugby tour to France for Munster supporters in response to the huge demand by fans for flights, her solicitor said in court yesterday.

Pamela Hickey (31), Ashfort, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, appeared at Limerick District Court where she pleaded guilty to two charges of acting as a tour operator or travel agent without a licence.

The prosecution against the mother of one was taken by the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) following complaints by licensed tour operators in the mid-west.

The head of travel trade with the CAR, Mr Fintan Deere, gave evidence that it had come to his attention that rugby tours were being organised without a licence.

The case under investigation involved a charter flight from Shannon to Lyon, France, in December 2003 for a rugby match in the Heineken European Cup between Munster and Bourgoin.

Mr Deere told the court it was organised without the necessary licence to act as a tour operator or travel agent for overseas travel.

The CAR met Ms Hickey and she agreed to apply for a licence but later failed to provide the required documents, the court heard.

In April 2004, the CAR applied to the court for a warrant to carry out a search of her home in Patrickswell. Ms Hickey complied with the search, provided a statement, and also invited CAR investigators to go to her office in Limerick where she runs a creche.

Mr Pat Barriscale, solicitor for Ms Hickey, said his client had set up a club, provided application forms for members, and genuinely believed what she was doing was right.

"In December 2003, there was a huge gulf in terms of supply and demand for transport to Munster away matches.

"There was no question of benefit or profit and she only wanted to cover her costs for the genuine supporters of Munster rugby.

"She believed that by selling the tickets through a club that she was entitled to do it," he said.

This allowed a lot more people access to travel arrangements for Munster matches than had previously been the case, said Mr Barriscale.

Judge Tom O'Donnell remarked that this was the first time that he had dealt with such a prosecution and added that the strength of support for Munster rugby was well known world-wide.

He said that despite the fact that the flight went off without a glitch there could have been "catastrophic" consequences.

Judge O'Donnell said he was taking into account the fact that Ms Hickey had pleaded guilty and had made a statement to the CAR.

He warned that she was obliged to have a licence and fined her a total of €1,000 and ordered that she pay €500 towards the costs of the CAR investigation.

Last night, the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation in Ireland, Mr Bill Prasifka, welcomed yesterday's court conviction.

"The prosecution was taken because evidence was brought to our attention that a person was trading as a tour operator without a licence.

"We are very pleased that the court upheld the integrity of our statutory regime and did levy a fine on the person operating illegally," said Mr Prasifka.