Robert Cunningham, the first publican in the southeast to be charged with a breach of the smoking ban, was fined at Waterford District Court today.
Mr Cunningham, the proprietor of Mullane's Bar in Waterford City, was fined €100 and ordered to pay €1,500 in costs after pleading guilty to the charge.
The solicitor for Mr Cunningham said many of his customers were elderly and set in their ways and he found it difficult to implement the ban.
Judge Peter Smithwich took into account Mr Cunningham's plea and imposed a nominal fine of €100.
The maximum fine under the smoking ban is €3,000. Principal Environmental Health Officer, Ray Parle, said he was very disappointed with the fine.
