A district court judge today strongly criticised one of Galway's leading hotels for cancelling a pre-booked wedding reception for two members of the city's settled traveller community. Judge Michael Connellan said that bride-to-be Caroline Ward had been treated "despicably" by the Galway Bay Hotel, but he rejected her application to deprive it of its drinks licence.
22-year-old Caroline Ward paid a £200 deposit to the hotel and received confirmation that it was available for her reception on 20 March 2000. A week later, however, she was told had been a double booking and her deposit was returned. Hotel owner John O'Sullivan said that this had been done because they were afraid, as a result of information given to them by the Gardaí, that there might be violence at the wedding.
A retired Garda Superintendent Jim Sugure told the court that groom Derek Ward and his father were involved in a serious ongoing feud between travelling families. Caroline Ward's solicitor said that these were vague and unsubstantiated allegations. He said that he believed she should have the matter dealt with in the civil courts. Afterwards, Caroline Ward said that she would consider suing the hotel.
