THE SECURITY INDUSTRY’S regulatory body is on the trail of an unlicensed security contractor who failed to turn up in court.

A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Noel Fitzpatrick, trading as Oaklawn Security Services, after he failed to show up in court in front of Judge Bridget Reilly yesterday. He is the first person to have been brought to court by the Private Security Authority this year. He was summonsed to court for “providing security guard (static) services without a licence in the Dublin area”.

In his absence, Judge Reilly heard the case and evidence from the Authority’s four witnesses in respect of 43 offences. The judge formally found the case to be proved against Mr Fitzpatrick.

Siobhan Carew of the Private Security Authority, which was set up under the 2004 Private Security Services Act, told TheJournal.ie that 19 prosecutions had been processed in the courts last year in relation to offences against the Act.

The Authority is a watchdog over all areas of privately-provided security, from the installation of alarms to the licensing of door staff on pubs and clubs.