Beer we go for a safe pint in pub

Owner says he will reopen on June 29 despite not selling food. Bulmers and Magners makers reveal €7million a month losses

- AILBHE DALY and HOLLY WILLIAMS

A PUB owner is insisting he will open on June 29 despite the fact he does not sell food.

John Harney, who runs Harney’s Final Furlong in the village of Ballyclerihan near Clonmel, Co Tipperary, is confident he can implement safe social distancing measures.

The bookmaker turned publican suffered a heart attack four weeks ago and is now in the category of having an underlying health condition.

His son James, who also works in the bar part-time, had a heart transplant as a child and is immunosuppressed, placing him in that category too.

John, 63, said: “You can be sure it is in all our interests to open the pub in a manner that is safe for our customers and our family.

“We will open on June 29 and offer a service equally as safe as any pub restaurant in the country that will open on that date also.