Caterers for an Indian cultural event at Fairyhouse racecourse last year immediately stopped catering to outdoor events after they were found to be in breach of food safety laws at the Co Meath event, a defending solicitor has told a local court. Maurice Regan was speaking in a case in which three people with Waterford addresses were prosecuted by the Hse for food hygiene breaches at the Kerala House festival on 21st June last. Those who were prosecuted were Miranda Kurian, Avoca Drive, Waterford, Cijo David, Ursuline Cross, Ballycrooked, Waterford and Cyril Mathew, Bishopsfield, Williamstown Road, Waterford. The defendants entered a guilty plea.
Prosecuting solicitor Mark Scanlon told the court that authorised officers of the Hse Sinead Healy and Lisa Timmons carried out food safety controls at a temporary food stall trading as Elite Events and Caterers. The stall was operated by the three defendants and they identified themselves as the persons in charge at the stall.
SERIOUS BREACHES
Inspections were carried out at 10am and 2pm and the officers noted multiple serious food safety non-compliance including food preparation and cooking taking place in an open and unsecured area with public access, inadequate hand and equipment washing, unsafe temperature control of high risk food including cooked rice and beef dishes with temperatures recorded outside safe limits.
There was also failure to maintain the cold food chain and failure to take action when instructed. There was an absence of documents on safe procedures. There were 25 food handlers working there without evidence of adequate supervision and hygiene training and there was also a failure to notify the Hse of a temporary food stall operating at the event. A prohibition order was issued to the defendants and a large amount of food was disposed of under supervision. There were no previous convictions.
NO WATER FACILITIES CONNECTED
The defending solicitor said his clients were asked to provide the catering facility to the festival goers. Mr Regan said the organisers of the event had promised that they would have a proper location in place. They were meant to have water facilities connected. It was too late to pull the operation out, he said, so they continued and then the inspectors came. He said his clients ran a catering business in Kilkenny where all the members had been trained in food safety and handling.
This was the second event they ever did and they had since ceased catering for outdoor events. The solicitor said he had indicated to the prosecution that there would be an early guilty plea to the offences. His clients were friends who were running a business together. Judge Gerry Jones fined each defendant €1,500 with added costs of €1,400 in each case.
