Jurys profits fall 12%

Ireland’s biggest hotel group, Jurys Doyle, today reported a 12% dive in profits in the wake of last year’s terrorist attacks on the United States.

Jurys Doyle, which has hotels on both sides of the Irish border, Britain and the United States, said pre-tax profits for a ‘‘challenging’’ six months up to last September, amounted to €28.8m.

Chairman Walter Beatty said: ‘‘Management coped extremely well with the effects of the global economic slowdown and the setbacks in the period post September 11.

‘‘The group fared much better than many others in the sector. Overall, we are cautiously optimistic for the trading environment for the rest of the year.’’