A wealthy Northern Irish family, the McGirrs, was awarded nearly £75,000 in damages after being falsely accused of leaving a pub in Derbyshire without paying their bill. In July 2024, they dined at The Horse & Jockey Inn, paid their £150 bill by card, and returned home. However, the pub later posted CCTV footage on social media alleging they had not paid, leading to significant media coverage and reputational harm.
The truth emerged when it was revealed that an inexperienced staff member had failed to process the payment correctly. Despite the pub’s attempts to apologize and offer compensation, the McGirrs pursued legal action to restore their reputation, feeling unjustly tarnished by the accusations. They are owners of McGirr Engineering, a company valued at over £2 million.
In May 2025, the court in Belfast ruled in favor of the McGirrs, with the pub admitting the allegations were unfounded and issuing a formal apology. Carol McGirr expressed relief on social media, emphasizing the importance of verifying facts before making public accusations, especially in the age of social media, where misinformation can spread quickly and have serious consequences.
