general manager Albert Eastmond against the Liquor Licensing Authority.

But before doing so, Sir James accused Police and The Royal Gazette of "damaging'' Eastmond's reputation.

Eastmond was appealing on the grounds that he did not get a chance to present his case to the authority when it rejected Scandal's application for a liquor licence in March.

He told Sir James that Police, who were the objectors, claimed he was "not a fit and proper person to manage a nightclub''.

But, he said, he was never given a chance to clear his name.

However, Sir James said the authority did not need to hear from Eastmond.

"The authority made the ruling that the applicant has no premises which could be licensed.'' Eastmond agreed the nightclub, which was shut down by Supreme Court bailiffs in February due to non-payment of $62,000 in rent, was closed when the application came before the authority.

And yesterday he said a decision on the club's future was still up in the air.

But Eastmond stressed that he just wanted to clear his name.

"There's nothing I can do for you,'' Sir James said. "I think you have a complaint but that complaint is not against the authority as such.'' Sir James said it was wrong for Police to make the accusation and for the Press to publish it.

Being referred to as "not a fit and proper manager'' did not necessarily mean Eastmond was a "bad manager'', he said.

"Not a fit and proper manager may mean that you did not have a proper work permit.'' "Why did Chief Insp. (Larry) Smith get up in court (before the authority) and say this?'' Sir James asked.

"I feel badly about this,'' Sir James told Eastmond. "There was no justice.

You got no opportunity to clear your name. Police should not do that sort of thing.''