A prominent UK family has received a $100,000 settlement after a restaurant falsely accused them of eating and departing without paying, ruining their good image.
Last July, a seemingly typical family dinner at The Horse & Jockey Inn in England’s Peak District turned into a courtroom drama that seized national headlines. Peter and Ann McGirr, joined by their children Peter Jr. and Carol, ate ribeye and gammon steaks and drank ales and lagers before returning to their home in Omagh, Northern Ireland.
However, shortly after they left, the inn posted CCTV footage of the family on its official Facebook page, accusing them of leaving without paying the £150 ($200) bill. The viral post led to public scrutiny and significant harm to the McGirr family’s reputation, leaving them no option but to take legal action.
Contrary to the inn’s allegations, the McGirrs had paid their bill via card. The misunderstanding came from a staff oversight, where the payment was not properly recorded in the till. Despite later discovering the error, The Horse & Jockey Inn’s owner struggled to correct the damage, offering apologies, free meals, and a complimentary stay.
The McGirr family, however, was not placated.
“A lot of ordinary people might have accepted this,” a source told the Daily Mail. “But given the McGirrs’ wealth and excellent reputation, that was never going to happen with them. Their reputation received such a battering they were left with little choice other than to take legal action to restore their name.”
The source further added: “They are very well known and respected in the Omagh area and are one of the wealthiest families around here. Everybody was very shocked when these allegations were first made because the McGirrs are not short of a pound or two. It was a very difficult time for the family because they knew all along that they were innocent.”
The McGirrs are the owners of McGirr Engineering, an internationally recognized company specializing in construction block machines valued at £2 million with cash reserves of £1.3 million. The defamatory claims made by the restaurant stood in stark contrast to the family’s affluence and esteemed standing in their community.
Given the damage to their reputation, the McGirrs took legal action. Before the matter went to court, The Horse & Jockey Inn settled for £75,000 ($100,000) and issued a formal apology.
Also Read: Australian Woman Spends $8K to Look Like a Cat for Clout, Now Deeply Regrets It
