HEALTH officials have confirmed that Bono, the U2 singer, is to be investigated for breaking the country’s smoking ban in the restaurant of a hotel that he co-owns.
The diminutive singer may face prosecution for lighting up last weekend in the Clarence hotel, which he owns with the Edge, while hosting a party for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Staff at the Tea Rooms restaurant asked the star to stub out his cigarette in the early hours of Saturday morning, when the party was in full swing.
They later expressed anger at the singer’s behaviour. “We’re not even allowed (to smoke) outside the door where it’s perfectly legal,” said one. “It’s totally against the law for Bono to do this. But it’s one law for them and another for us.”
He had been smoking openly inside the restaurant despite the three-month-old ban.
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The 44-year-old multimillionaire and anti-poverty campaigner, who lives in south Dublin, said he had been “unaware” of the ban. “I was in the company of people from out of town who didn’t know about the ban and for a moment nor did I,” he said.
His protestations may fall on deaf ears. The Dublin south western area health board, which has questioned John Deasy, the Fine Gael TD, over smoking in the Dail bar, confirmed last night it was investigating the incident.
Sources said an inquiry had begun which could end in the singer being fined €3,000. “A high-profile scalp will certainly make the point,” said one.
The health board said: “We have not yet received an official complaint in relation to this. However, we will be inquiring into the matter.”
Staff at the hotel said workers were considering a formal complaint. One said: “We’re told it’s a sackable offence for us to to be seen smoking in uniform near the hotel.”
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Officials are taking a hard line on those who flout the law. The Office of Tobacco Control says there has been a 97% compliance rate across the country.
The Clarence hotel said: “Some diners apparently did smoke in the Tea Room in the early hours, were asked to stop, did so and apologised. The hotel wholeheartedly supports and enforces the smoking ban.”
Deasy was sacked as his party’s justice spokesman in April after he refused to extinguish a cigarette while drinking in the Dail bar. He was questioned by health officials who gave him a formal warning.