Overview

• The McGirr family, owners of a multimillion-pound engineering business, were falsely accused of leaving a Derbyshire pub without paying a £150 bill.
• The accusation stemmed from an error by an inexperienced staff member who failed to register the card payment in the till.
• The pub's Facebook post sharing CCTV images caused significant reputational harm to the family, prompting them to file a libel lawsuit.
• A Belfast Crown Court settlement awarded the family £75,000 in damages, with total costs to the pub reaching approximately £140,000.
• The pub landlord personally apologized and offered complimentary services, but the family pursued legal action to restore their reputation.