Premier Hotel licensee sent to court over failure to keep security on-staff for late night trading
On August 11, licensee of the Premier Hotel in Broadmeadow, Shane John O’Sullivan, was slapped with a notice of failure to comply with conditions of license security.
Newcastle
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On the first weekend of extended trading hours, a Newcastle pub has been reprimanded for failing to make sure security were there until after the hotel’s closure.
On Sunday August 11, licensee of the Premier Hotel in Broadmeadow, Shane John O’Sullivan, was slapped with a notice of failure to comply with conditions of license security.
Earlier this year, the proprietors of three popular Hunter hotels applied to the state’s licensing authority to extend operating hours into the early morning, one of them being The Premier.
The Thomas Hotels application saw trading hours on Friday and Saturday nights extended at The Premier from 12 midnight until 2am.
The conditions attached meant a licensed security guard had to be employed from 10pm until 30 minutes after the hotel closed on both nights to monitor behaviour inside and around the hotel.
But this condition was breached when one of the security officers was let go early because it wasn’t busy.
Newcastle Local Court heard on Friday, it was a mistake from the duty officer, who was unaware of the change in conditions.
“Ultimately the duty manager was not aware a security officer needed to be there and manage security,” Mr O’Sullivan’s solicitor said.
A former pub manager at numerous establishments, including at Customs House from 2016 until 2018, the court heard O’Sullivan had worked the day shift but did not communicate with the duty manager prior to finishing.
Court documents said when police attended the hotel there were three patrons in the main bar with the manager and one bar staff.
Police asked the manager where security were to which he replied “he has finished, we let him go early as there were not many people”.
The security sign on register indicated security had clocked on at 5pm on August 10 but then signed off at 9pm.
Prosecution Craig Staniland said as licensee, it was Mr O’Sullivan’s job and obligation to make sure his staff were aware of the first weekend to stay open late.
“The licensee has overall obligations the premises is run properly,” he said.
Magistrate Robert Stone told the court license conditions needed to be applied with but said Mr O’Sullivan could rely on a good record as a licensee.
“I accept in other hotels you have not been in previous matters since 1996,” he said.
“It is an indication you take your work seriously.
“This was a lack of communication between you and duty manager.”
O’Sullivan was handed down a Conditional Release Order (CRO) which places him on a good behaviour bond for 12 months.