Dicey’s nightclub's late licence application is at risk of rejection

A series of objections have arisen over Dicey’s nightclub application for a licence to serve late night alcoholic drinks.

The objections have stemmed mainly from residents who live in O'Carroll's Villas on Cuffe Street, telling the District Court of sleeping difficulties because of the "thump, thump, thump" music emanating from the Beer Garden and nightclub located on Harcourt Street.

The back row of flats are a mere two minute walk from the back of the Russell Court Hotel, where a sizeable beer garden is located within Dicey’s nightclub.

Residents Lisa Lawlor, John Carey, Joan Coleman, Geraldine Collins and Sarah Purcell all objected to Triglen Holdings Limited’s special exemption licence application due to sleep disturbances because of disruptive noise levels.

Ms Purcell told the court she can't hear her television over the sound coming from the beer garden, stating, "It is very noisy at night and I can't get to sleep.”

Explaining how her bedroom “overlooks into the back of Dicey's,” Sarah Purcell continued, “It is so loud that I can't hear my television. All I can hear is the thump, thump thump music."

Judge Marie Quirke was also informed by Ms Purcell that on one occasion, music was still coming from the premises at 3.30am- the conditions of the late licence outline that all music is supposed to stop at 2.30am.

When asked by the judge if she had any solutions, Ms Purcell suggested that music "doesn't need to be that loud".

Geraldine Collins whose home is also located in O'Carroll's Villas, similarly to Ms Purcell, complained of being unable to hear her television over the noise and being unable to sleep until 2.30am.

A recording that was taken in Ms Collins’s flat in the early hours of Easter Monday was also played for the court.

Ms Purcell agreed to have sound expert Jim Dunne come into her home and insert a machine that would measure the decibel level in her apartment over the course of a day.

Mr Dunne revealed to the court that the results indicated a minimal difference in noise levels from 6.40pm through to 7.35am. According to the sound expert, the decibel measurements ranged from 38 decibels at 4.10am to 47.9 decibels at 3.30am. Mr Dunne reported to Judge Marie Quirke that the residents did not “have a noise problem of the scale” that they had reported.

"If it was that obtrusive, you expect to see it" in the decibels, he added, revealing that the measurements were taken with the windows open which adds ten decibels compared to if they were shut.

Under oath, the O'Carroll's Villas’ resident informed the court that Mr Dunne told her he had asked Dicey’s to “lower the music on the night he came to mine". In turn Mr Dunne denied this claim, stating, "I said to the guy, run this the way you always do".

Sergeant William Quinlan told the court that the gardaí have no objections to the late licence, but did mention that they had received “numerous” complaints from those who objected since June of 2022. Quinlan also noted that during one inspection of the premises on New Year's day, music was playing at 2.50am in the morning.

The Sergeant continued, acknowledging that the nightclub's management "always cooperates" with the gardaí, and that he has dealt with a "large" number of late licence holders who play music past the permitted 2.30am curfew in the Dublin 2 area.

Asking the nightclub to consider turning down the volume of the music in the beer garden, Ms Justice Marie Quirke adjourned the case.