Maloney's bar in St Helens to appeal decision to revoke licence

The Star reported after the licence of Maloney's bar, on Ormskirk Street, was revoked. 

Police had applied to have the licence of Maloney's, on Ormskirk Street, in St Helens town centre reviewed.

A hearing was held at the town hall for the St Helens Council Licensing Sub-Committee on June 20 to hear representations from the police, the licensing authority, and on behalf of the owner of Maloney's, Peter Edwards.

The venue had relaunched as Maloney’s just four months ago having previously been known as Kandy Klub.

In May the Star reported how a man was glassed and another kicked in the face in separate assaults in the venue.

Maloney's bar, on Ormskirk Street (Image: St Helens Star)

During the hearing held last Thursday, June 20, which lasted more than two hours, Nicola Ireland, Merseyside Police’s licensing officer, said to councillors on the committee, that the events of May 23 were not an “isolated” incident and that there has been a “rapid escalation” of violent incidents since the venue had reopened earlier this year.

Christopher Kenny, principal operations officer for licensing at St Helens Council, said to committee members that amending the licence would “not work” and requested for it to be revoked, adding that “Maloney’s has become a venue for frequent crime and disorder".

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Michael Balmer, the solicitor of Maloney’s owner Peter Edwards, said to the committee members that the events of May 23 were “not preventable” and that incidents at the venue represented a small percentage of incidents in the policing area.

He claimed there had been “little to no engagement” from the licensing authority with his client ahead of the request for the licence to be rescinded.

 “Mr Edwards has ran operated licensed premises in the St Helens area for 10 years,” said Mr Balmer.

“This is the first incident of serious crime and disorder in a number of years, and I would submit on his behalf that it’s unreasonable and unfair to revoke, or indeed to continue to suspend the licence moving forward."

He added: “There are measures that have been put in place, the presence of management on each night, from 9pm I would respectfully submit is a good measure.”

Mr Balmer said: “We’ve gone from zero to 100, no action plan has been put in place. We’ve gone from nothing happening at all to simply asking for the licence to be revoked.

“It’s unfortunate, St Helens town centre, like many town centres and city centres in the country, will inevitably have problems with drunk people under the influence of drugs and things of that nature, which I’m afraid we’ll never be able to eradicate 100 per cent but Mr Edwards co-operates with the authorities when required.”

Maloney's owner Mr Edwards has told the Star today, Friday, that the venue has launched an appeal against the revocation of the licence with the courts.

He said he disputed the evidence brought by Merseyside Police and the council.

Maloney's has been closed since an interim steps hearing on May 24, following the receipt of a summary review application by Merseyside Police and will remain closed during the appeal process.