Award-winning restaurant closes due to E coli probe

AN award-winning hotel restaurant run by Tom O’Connell, brother of celebrity chef Darina Allen, has closed voluntarily until health and food safety experts complete a probe into recent outbreaks of E coli 0157.

Mr O’Connell’s restaurant in Bewley’s Hotel, Ballsbridge, remained shut for a second day yesterday as management and staff assisted in the investigation. Mr O’Connell was not available for comment.

According to the Eastern Region Health Authority (ERHA), the restaurant’s management and staff are co-operating fully in the investigation by ERHA, the National Disease Surveillance Centre and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

ERHA said an investigation of gastroenteritis was underway following notification to its public health department of five confirmed and two probable cases of E coli 0157 over the last two weeks.

“All of the people concerned have recovered,” the authority said.