‘THE FALL GUYS OF COVID-19’
Pub owner furious with Government opens in defiance – but he closes two hours later after the gardaí arrive
A DEFIANT publican went against Government advice yesterday by opening his door to punters – but was forced to shut when gardaí arrived two hours later.
Gearóid Whelan, of Whelan’s Bar in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, said he felt publicans should be trusted to do their job safely, like other professionals, and that pubs such as his – which does not serve food – should be allowed to open.
‘We’ve been running this business for 70 years, like many more familyowned pubs. It’s time they showed a bit of faith in us,’ he said.
Mr Whelan publicised his reopening on Twitter, and proudly posted a video showing small groups of customers seated inside and in outdoor areas of his bar. But the opening was short-lived.
Mr Whelan told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘We opened up at ten to 11, following every guideline to be Covid-safe, including social distancing. We had 50 customers through the door. They were temperature-checked, and their information taken, they were served at their tables, there were no problems at all.
‘Then at 1pm the guards entered the bar. They advised me that under the Public Health Act it would be safer for me to close my door. I said I would take their advice, taking a long-term view.’
Mr Whelan said he wanted to
‘I think I proved my point’
demonstrate that he could open safely, adding: ‘I think I proved my point. I wanted the Government to give people the chance to show we can operate a bar safely, just like shops, petrol stations or hotels.
‘I think the pubs have been the fall guy of Covid. We were the first to close down, and we are still not open four months later. We are professional people, and we should be given the same chance as any other line of business. We have been treated unfairly.’
He said he had spent thousands of euro getting the pub ready to reopen – with social-distancing measures, wooden partitions between tables and sanitising stations all implemented. Customers had to sign in, giving their details, as they do in restaurants.
Mr Whelan said he had taken a stand, because he was frustrated that pubs had willingly closed down on March 14, while airports remained open. Only those pubs which serve food have been allowed to resume business.
‘If my figures are right there have been 19 flights in from America, which is the epicentre of the virus,’ he said. ‘Most of them [arriving] won’t quarantine, they are only here for ten or 14 days. They are just going about their holiday, travelling the length and breadth of Ireland, and yet my pub and the other pubs in Ireland are closed.’
Mr Whelan said he never expected to become national news, but that he had received a very positive reaction from the public.
He said: ‘I have been inundated with messages saying, “Fair play to you, about time some one stood up”. I didn’t set out for this to happen. I put up a tweet on Wednesday and it has escalated beyond all belief,’ he added.
Mr Whelan also said there had been no cases of Covid-19 in Limerick in the past week, and that there had been ‘practically zero’ cases at all in west Limerick.
He said the impact of the ban on non-gastro-pubs opening was being strongly felt in rural pubs, where only a few people would normally gather.
‘In the meantime, there are house parties going on – we have all seen the footage. And they won’t let us operate in a Covid-safe, controlled environment,’ he protested.
‘It’s going to cripple the pub industry. I fear that 50% to 60% of
pubs could close after this, and it is our rural pubs which Ireland is famous for.’
Reacting to Mr Whelan’s stand, a spokesman for the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said: ‘While there is considerable frustration among many VFI members about the Government’s decision to postpone reopening until at least August 10, publicans must adhere to the guidelines for the phased easing of lockdown.
‘Publican frustration stems from prolonged closure since March 15, fear for the future of their businesses and standing idle as the remainder of the hospitality sector was allowed reopen three weeks ago. The VFI argued for all pubs to open at the same time, but Government disagreed and we now have a scenario where frustration is growing.’
The federation said publicans who faced an uncertain future were relying on the imminent announcement of a stimulus package.
‘Restart grants, an extended suspension of commercial rates and a VAT reduction are the type of business supports that will prevent many pubs from going bust,’ the spokesman said.
‘Restart grants and VAT reduction’