The owner of Doh Pizza in Limerick,Ireland,was told he could be taken to court and imprisoned

The boss of an Irish pizzeria has hit out at authorities for threatening him with a €12.7 million (£10.9 million) fine or prison for displaying an unlicensed sign.

Adam Ivan-Clancy,who part-owns Doh Pizza in Limerick,put a sandwich board with his logo and the slogan ‘pizza is life’ outside the store.

Limerick City and County Council then sent him a letter stating the sign counts as ‘unauthorised street furniture’.

It said he could be taken to court for a breach of planning laws.

The offending sign in question,displayed outside Doh Pizza’s doors

If convicted by a judge at a lower court,he would face a fine of up to €5,000 (£4,300),a jail term of up to six months,or both,the letter adds.

But if he fought the case before a jury and lost,he could be fined up to €12,697,380.78 or imprisoned for up to two years,the council warned.

The letter gave Mr Ivan-Clancy four weeks to respond or be hit with an ‘enforcement notice’ that would kick off the legal proceedings.

The businessman called out the council on social media,saying ‘this nonsense needs to stop’.

Mr Ivan-Clancy shared a picture of the letter containing the legal threats

He suggested the threat may have been issued just because he failed to license the sign ‘at a cost of €700 [£600] per annum’.

‘I mean we all know the problems the city has and we all know the council could and should do more but they go around wasting taxpayers’ money trying to enforce this utter nonsense,’ he added.

The council has said the regulations ‘ensure that the use of public spaces by businesses enhances the streetscape without compromising the safety and accessibility of the area’.

‘This system is designed to prevent unnecessary restrictions on footpaths and roads,maintaining a balance between business interests and public safety,’ it said in a statement issued to LimerickLive.