When an inspector from the Workplace Relation Commission visited a Chinese takeaway in Dunboyne it was found that certain documents relating to the operation of the business were not available, Navan District Court has been told. The WRC took a prosecution against Coco Queens Wok Chinese, main Street, Dunboyne. Prosecuting solicitor David McEntee told the court that an inspection took place on 26 th September 2024 and when a director of the business was asked for certain documents they were not available. These documents included terms of employment, records of the days and hours worked each week by each employee and records of leave and associated payments.
Mr McEntee said there were no previous convictions for the company but there was one for a similar offence against the secretary. Defending solicitor Maurice Regan told the court that the summons was served on his client on 10 th October and she wrote to Mr McEntee on 15 th October taking full responsibility and indicating she wished to plead guilty and was willing to accept any penalty or fine imposed. “She has certainly mended her hand and everything is up to date. She has put procedures in place”, he said.
Judge Eirinn McKiernan, pictured above, asked if they were still running their business and Mr Regan replied that they were. It was a small business, he said. “It’s very hard to run a small business now”, the judge said. She called on the defendant to pay €300 donation to Navan Meals on Wheels. Mr McEntee sought €950 costs in the case . The judge said she would not impose costs on the defendant, saying that it was very difficult to run a business at the moment, as it is at the moment keeping up with records in any profession”. The judge told defendant, “Look, I know it’s difficult but you have to keep your paperwork in order.”
