Copeland’s Irvine to fight court charges

Local gin producer, Gareth Irvine, is to fight charges of illegally making and selling alcohol.

Irvine (27), who owns the award-winning Copeland Distillery in Donaghadee, is said to have made and sold alcohol without a licence at his premises and also at Harbour & Company restaurant in the town on October 18 last year. He is also accused of exposing the owner of Harbour & Company to a risk of prosecution by claiming that he would operate on his premises in line with the law.

The Copeland Distillery was originally established in 2016 and since then, it has grown its production capacity and product range to include a range of Irish gin, single malt and pot still whiskey for local consumers and global export.

Last year, the company spent £600,000 on a new distillery and visitor centre experience at Manor Street in Donaghadee.

When the coronavirus pandemic began in March, the distillery temporarily switched to the manufacture of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Irvine, who lives at Millmount Village Avenue in Dundonald, will appear at court again on September 29.