Prosperous Family Clears Allegations of Dining and Dashing: The Multi-millionaire Clan Ignored Landlord's Last-minute Plea to Withdraw £140,000 Lawsuit Despite Generous Compensation Offer
Rewritten Article:
In a baffling turn of events, a family that received a whopping £75,000 compensation after a pub falsely accused them of not paying their bill, is revealed to be multi-millionaires. The McGirr family, who had their reputation tarnished, launched a legal battle against the pub in Belfast high court.
The McGirr clan, including Peter Sr., Ann, Peter Jr., and Carol, indulged in an extravagant meal at the Horse and Jockey pub in the Peak District last July. Their feast comprised expensive steaks and several alcoholic beverages. However, a lapse at the pub’s end turned their idyllic evening sour.
CCTV footage showing the McGirr family was uploaded on the pub's Facebook page, accusing them of dashing without settling a £150 bill, staining their reputation with shocking, defamatory accusations. The false allegation triggered a significant backlash on social media platforms and garnered widespread media coverage.
The turmoil arose due to a simple oversight — the staff had forgotten to record the payment on the till. Despite paying their due, the McGirrs' wallets were not spared from this ordeal.
In a legal victory, the McGirrs were compensated with a hefty sum of £75,000 after successfully suing the pub for libel. The pub management acknowledged their mistake, expressing remorse and clearing the McGirrs of any wrongdoing before any evidence was presented in court.
What came as a surprise was the wealth the McGirrs enjoy, putting them among the wealthiest residents in County Tyrone and their prominent status in the local community. Their massive empire, McGirr Engineering, is worth more than £2 million, with cash reserves of over £1.3 million, based in Omagh.
Interestingly, John Watson, the landlord of the Horse and Jockey, now faces financial ruin as he must pay approximately £140,000 due to the settlement. To settle the case, MailOnline understands that Watson personally apologized to the McGirrs and offered them a complimentary meal and stay at his pub in return for dropping the legal action.
A source shared that despite Watson's attempts, the McGirrs refused to back down due to their wealth and impeccable reputation. "The McGirrs are not the kind of people who would do a 'dine and dash,' so I didn't believe it when I first heard about it." The source added, "Their reputation suffered greatly, leaving them little choice but to take legal action to restore their name."
McGirr Engineering, founded 40 years ago by Peter McGirr Sr., is considered the UK's leading block equipment manufacturer. Peter Sr., one of the McGirrs falsely accused, took his family to the Peak District for a short vacation, and they enjoyed their food at the Horse and Jockey pub so much that they returned for a second meal.
The McGirrs have a solid reputation in the region, and the legal action was not focused on the monetary compensation but restoring their tarnished reputation. Their barrister, Peter Girvan, emphasized that the accusations caused enormous reputational damage to the family, having no factual basis.
Following the settlement, Carol McGirr, daughter of Peter and Ann, expressed her relief, "Thank god it's all over, and our names are cleared." In a post uploaded to Facebook, she urged her friends and family, "Don't pay for your food and drink before you eat as this can happen," reminding them to use a card for transactions as proof of payment. The post received support from netizens, affirming their ordeal and their restored reputation.
- Despite their wealth and prominence in County Tyrone, the McGirr family faced defamatory accusations when CCTV footage from the Horse and Jockey pub's Facebook page suggested they hadn't paid a £150 bill.
- In the legal victory, the McGirrs were compensated with £75,000 after successfully suing the pub for libel, as the management acknowledged their mistake and cleared the McGirrs of any wrongdoing.
- Interestingly, John Watson, the landlord of the Horse and Jockey, now faces financial ruin due to the settlement, with approximately £140,000 owed.
- Carol McGirr, daughter of Peter and Ann, expressed her relief upon the settlement, saying, "Thank god it's all over, and our names are cleared."
- In the regional lifestyle and food-and-drink scene, the McGirr family's reputation suffered greatly from the false accusations, but they managed to restore it with the settlement and Peter Girvan's emphasis on their lack of fault.
- Peter Sr., one of the McGirrs falsely accused, took his family to the Peak District for a vacation, where they indulged in expensive steaks and enjoyed their meals at the Horse and Jockey pub so much that they returned for a second meal.
- Carol McGirr also used the opportunity to remind her friends and family on Facebook to pay for their food and drinks with a card for proof of transaction to avoid such incidents in the future.
