RLO conviction costs businessmen €3,500
Two Limerick businessmen have been handed down fines totalling €3,500 after they were convicted of verious offences in relation to the operation of unlicensed radio station Radio Limerick One.
Gerrard Hannan, who owns the Limerick OnLine web Cafe on William Street, and Michael Gleeson, who owns Gleeson’s Shoes, also on William Street, both pleaded guilty to posession of possession of unlawful equipment. Hannan pleaded guilty to a further charge of broadcasting illegally.
During the trial at the District Court, compliance inspector for the Commission for Communications Regulator (ComReg) Tom Boyse, gave evidence that he had traced a signal on 105.2 FM to two premesis on William Street.
A transmitter antenna was found on the roof of Gleeson’s shoe store during a search of the premesis, while Hannan was found in the company of a guest, and seated in front of a mixing dest at his business premesis, which, at the time was a bookstore.
Further equipment was found the second building.
In evidence, Mr. Boyce told the court that Gleeson was co-operative when asked about the equipment.. He also apologised for “troubling the law” and said that it was not his style.
He described Hannan as “initially aggressive,” however he did admit to being aware that he was broadcasting illegally.
The station has been off air on FM since December 2006, but continued for some months via the internet.
In handing down the fines to both men, Judge Tom O’Donnell took into account the men’s guilty pleas, as well as the fact that RLO had been off air for some time.
Gleeson was fined €500 for possession of unlawful equipment and was ordered to pay legal fees of €1,000. Hannan was fined the same amount for possession of unlawful equipment, as well as a further €500 for broadcasting illegally. Like his co-accused, he too was ordered to pay €1,000 legal costs.
Speaking briefly about the case to limerickblogger.org, Ger Hannon said he was delighted with the sentence.
52 William Street, where the radio station was located, and where the Limerick OnLine web cafe is located now, has had it’s lease put on the market with Rooney’s Auctioneers.
Mr. Hannan is selling the lease with a view of relocating his business elsewhere in the city. He has also told us that there has been heavy interest in the property since it was put on the market.