Top pub hit with closure order for food safety lapse

One of the country’s best-known public houses — Morrisey’s in Abbeyleix, Co Laois — was one of seven food outlets served with a closure order for breaches of food safety legislation.

A regular stopping off point for people travelling on the old main Dublin-Cork road, the closure order, issued by the HSE, was served on the proprietor, Tom Lennon on Jun 26 and only affected the kitchen area of the premises. It was lifted two days later after it was found to be in compliance.

The closure order was issued under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations. A spokesperson for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said the legislation was used for cases of “persistent non-compliance”.