Mr. William O’Sullivan (known as Billy) of South Douglas Road, Cork was found guilty today at Bandon District Court for a breach of the Private Security Services Acts. The prosecution by the Private Security Authority (PSA) followed the provision by Mr O’Sullivan of an unlicensed security service at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale. Judge James Mc Nulty fined Mr. O’Sullivan €500 with costs of €250 awarded and gave the defendant 6 months to pay or 28 days in jail.

The offence occurred in May this year during the popular Rugby 7s festival in Kinsale. Mr. O’Sullivan was providing a door supervisor service at the hotel without the required PSA licence. Inspectors from the PSA visited the town during the festival and as a result Mr. O’Sullivan was successfully prosecuted for providing a security service without a licence.

The prosecution took place in the same week as the PSA commenced the licensing of contractors installing and maintaining CCTV and Access Control systems. Since the 1st October it is an offence under the Private Security Services Acts to install, maintain, service or repair a CCTV system or Access Control system without a licence. Penalties range from fines of up to €3,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months.

Similarly, any person, business or organisation employing an unlicensed CCTV or Access Control contractor is also breaking the law and liable to prosecution.

The Private Security Authority (PSA) is the statutory body responsible for the licensing and regulation of the private security industry in Ireland. The PSA already licences contractors who provide the following services;

  • Intruder Alarm Installation and Maintenance
  • Security Guarding
  • Door Supervision
  • Cash In Transit
  • Intruder Alarm Monitoring