A Magistrates Court in Belfast ruled in favor of a group of poker players who were the victims of an aggressive five-hour police raid. Last weekend, police in Belfast raided a private poker club, taking with them £23,000. The 80 poker players at the Cavendish Club in Belfast, a group that included many reputable professionals, were ordered by police to cease their poker play. Although police justified the raid by citing the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries, and Amusements Order of 1985, the court ultimately sided with the poker players, ordering police to return the confiscated cash.

Despite the favorable result of the court case, Sean Murphy, the owner of the Cavendish Club, is still registering a complaint with the Police Ombudsman over the aggressive nature of the police raid. According to Murphy, the club was aboveboard in all its dealings, and was therefore undeserving of such harsh treatment by police.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Thursday, 02 February 2006