‘If I refuse to serve I’m in trouble; if I serve this happens’

A prominent publican who was badly beaten after he refused to serve a Traveller has described the issue of equality as “a no-win situation” for pub owners.

Paddy Hogan, the brother of Environment Minister Phil Hogan, was set upon by a gang throwing bottles, glasses, and a hanging basket as he attempted to stop the angry mob entering his pub on Sunday night.

Mr Hogan, who owns The Hogan Stand in Tullow, Co Carlow, was subjected to an attack by up to a dozen men and women, which left him hospitalised after his face was cut by flying glass.

“I am shocked. All I’m trying to do here is make a living and run a good house. There’s a lot of talk about Travellers’ rights, but what about the publicans’? If I refuse to serve someone, I’m in trouble, but what if I do serve someone and this happens — it’s a no-win situation,” he said.

The incident began at about 10pm when a member of the Traveller community entered the premises and was served by Mr Hogan.

“He told me he had friends coming and I cautioned him to behave himself,” said Mr Hogan. However, minutes later, another man appeared, who Mr Hogan immediately deemed too drunk to serve.

It is understood the group was drinking heavily in Tullow for several hours prior to arriving at The Hogan Stand.

“I refused him,” said Mr Hogan. “He had enough drank but then he grabbed a pint glass from another customer and tried to hit me in the face with it. Only that a customer grabbed him, it would have hit me in the face.”

With the aid of a customer, Mr Hogan attempted to eject the aggressive man from the pub, but at the door they were met by a gang of up to a dozen men and women, all brandishing bottles and glasses and determined to get in.

“They threw everything at me: bottles, pint glasses, a hanging basket they’d unhooked from outside a shop on Abbey Street ... they threw everything into my face.

“We were too afraid to stay here last night,” said Mr Hogan, whose home is attached to the premises.

Mr Hogan, who had just returned from the All-Ireland hurling final when the incident occurred, spent three hours in hospital, where he underwent X-rays, head scans and treatment for the cuts to his face.

Tullow gardaí confirmed the matter is being investigated and CCTV footage has been downloaded.

“We have a certain number of suspects identified and an investigation in ongoing,” said Sgt Joe Hanley.

Travellers Advocacy group Pavee Point has said the assault on Mr Hogan “was totally unacceptable”.

“The people who were responsible for this must be held to account. But if people are fair-minded, I hope they can see that all Travellers do not act like this,” said Martin Collins.