Brian Collopy was "acting as the barman" on the premises at 7am when gardai inspected the Mucky Duck on April 12, and his younger brother, Jonathan, shut the door on gardai when they tried to enter the pub at 1.25am on June 26.

At a previous court sitting, Insp Seamus Gallagher of Henry Street Garda station said there had been "a total breakdown of the law", and added that the gardai had been treated with contempt whenever they tried to inspect the Mucky Duck.

"The gardai were made fools of," the inspector said.

Judge Tom O'Donnell said he was reminded of the expression "lunatics taking over the asylum'.

Limerick Court was told this Thursday that Garda Joe O'Reilly inspected the bar at 7am last April 12 and found Brian Collopy, 37, of Clooncunna, Ballysimon, acting as the barman. There were two other men present and empty cans and glasses cluttered the counter, and there was neither a pub licence nor the licencee on the premises.

Solicitor Ted McCarthy said it was difficult to explain the matter because Mr Collopy had a "vague" recollection of that morning.

Mr McCarthy said the 37-year-old was on his way home from a party and knocked on the front door of the Mucky Duck and gained admittance.

He was charged with aiding and abetting the former licensee who has previously been convicted of breaching the licensing laws.

Judge Tom O'Donnell fined Mr Collopy €250, and described his behaviour as "an outrageous performance".

Separately, Det Sgt Ronan McDonagh gave evidence of inspecting the Mucky Duck at 1.25am last June 26, along with a number of other gardai.

"Jonathan Collopy came to the door and opened it, saw that it was us and shut the door," he told the court.

Sgt McDonagh said he could hear the 23-year-old, who has an address at St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park, shouting at the 37 other people who were in the bar, alerting them that the Gardai were outside.

Mr Collopy opened the door a few minutes later. He was charged with obstruction.

Solicitor Ted McCarthy said there were 37 people in the bar at the time and Mr Collopy happened to answer the door.

Judge Tom O'Donnell asked the solicitor: "Can I take it that you think Sgt McDonagh was fortunate that somebody opened the door?"

Mr McCarthy said his client accepted that he should not have been in the bar after closing time and was apologetic.

The judge fined Mr Collopy €250.

Ray Collopy, a brother of Brian and Jonathan, was due before the court this Thursday afternoon to face separate charges in connection an incident at the Mucky Duck last year.