George Brennan (54) was ordered to close Georgie B's Bar in Strabane's Castle Street when he appeared at the town's magistrate's court last Thursday.

Following Brennan's conviction for selling alcohol on the premises outside the legal opening times, a Strabane police chief pledged to further crackdown on offenders in the area.

"All licensees should take note of this result," PSNI Chief Inspector Dodd said.

The court heard that on February 16 police at Market Street saw two men enter the bar at 8.40am. When the officers entered the premises they found that a cleaner was in charge and that Brennan was not there.

When charges were later put to Brennan, he said: "You aren't going to do me over two pints, are you?"

On April 23 police again visited the premises and a barman admitted allowing alcohol to be consumed outside legal opening hours.

Brennan's solicitor Stephen Mooney said his client was the licensee but that he accepted no responsibility for permitting the consumption of alcohol.

He said that Brennan had been running the bar for several years and that his trade had suffered since the introduction of the smoking ban.

Magistrate Eamon King said the defendant should have learned his lesson from two previous convictions. Brennan was fined £750 and ordered to close for four weeks.