‘Austerity forces closure’ of upmaket restaurant

Austerity has led to the closure of an upmarket and Michelin-recommended restaurant in Killarney, its owners have claimed.

Chapter Forty restaurant, in New Street, has become a victim of the downturn. Co-owner Mark Murphy yesterday said austerity was leading to the closure of small businesses: “If you take money out of someone’s pocket, it means they can’t put money into someone else’s pocket.”

He said the restaurant which employed 11 staff had battled the recession but it eventually got hold of them: “It was like getting to the 11th round of a 12-round fight but we could go no further.”