A prominent Northern Irish family has been awarded £75,000 in damages after being falsely accused of dining and dashing at a Derbyshire pub—a mistake that led to a costly legal battle and public fallout.
Peter and Ann McGirr, along with their children Peter Jr and Carol, visited The Horse and Jockey pub in Tideswell, Derbyshire, for a family meal. After enjoying their dinner, which included ribeye and gammon steaks accompanied by real ales and lagers, they paid their £150 bill and left. However, due to an oversight by an inexperienced staff member who failed to process the payment through the till, the pub believed the family had left without paying.
In response, the pub posted CCTV footage of the family on Facebook, alleging they had left without settling their bill. The public accusation quickly gained attention, leading to widespread reputational damage for the McGirr family. Despite the pub’s later realization of the error and a personal apology from landlord Sam Watson—including an offer of a complimentary meal and stay—the McGirrs pursued legal action to restore their reputation.
The case was settled out of court, with the pub agreeing to pay £75,000 in damages and £60,000 in legal costs, totaling nearly £140,000. The staff member responsible for the error was dismissed. The McGirr family, owners of McGirr Engineering—a company valued at over £2 million—emphasized the importance of protecting their reputation in their local community of County Tyrone.
This incident underscores the potential consequences of public accusations based on incomplete information and highlights the importance of due diligence before making such claims.
Source: RealShockMedia.info