Heartbreak as one of Ireland's historic pubs closed for ‘foreseeable future' after arson attack as PSNI issue appeal
A RESTAURANT owner suffered heartbreak after a suspected overnight arson attack destroyed the establishment in Co Antrim.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a blaze at a bar and restaurant Sixty Six, formerly Billy Andy's, in the Browndod Road area in
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Three appliances and an aerial platform were used to tackle the
The shocking scene shows the devastating impact of the damage, with the rustic building's roof completely destroyed and the building gutted.
The
Sergeant Allen said: "We received a report at around 2:50am of a fire at commercial premises in the Browndod Road area.
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"Officers attended the scene along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who worked to extinguish the blaze.
"Enquiries are ongoing and at this stage, the fire is being treated as deliberate."
The 19th-century establishment was well-loved by the locals and tourists from around the world due to its relaxed atmosphere with traditional Irish music and fabulous local dinners.
The owners took to social media to inform their loyal customers that their premises will be "closed for the foreseeable future" after the shocking incident.
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They added that more information about their closure will come at a later date as the Northern Ireland cops investigate the incident.
The owners also confirmed that they will be contacting those who have booked reservations at the establishment to inform the news.
'MANY MONTHS TO REPAIR'
Local Councillor Roy Beggs was left heartbroken to hear the sad news of the local establishment that will have a devastating impact on the local.
He said: "Sad loss of local Restaurant & B&B through fire damage.
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"With Sixty Six's (Billy Andy's) roof gone & building gutted, it will take many months to repair."
The loyal customers shared their heartbreak on
Another person added: "Absolutely gutted. Part of local history gone forever..."
The third person said: "Absolutely terrible news, you will rebuild bigger and better."
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Another customer wrote: "Absolutely disgusting that this has happened to you and the staff.
"Smashing spot."
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PSNI is currently investigating the suspected arson attack on a local restaurant
Credit: PA:Press Association
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The Irish Sun
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While it's a positive to have a dedicated authority to streamline the regulation and licensing of gambling, which has been piecemeal until now, this legislation has been in the pipeline for 11 years, since a Fine Gael-Labour government first proposed new gambling laws. It certainly hasn't been rushed through. As of March, the new Gambling Regulation Act 2024 came into effect, establishing this new gambling watchdog. However, most of the provisions of the act, although signed into law, have not yet commenced. Consequently, it's business as usual for most gambling companies in Ireland, which are not currently required to follow the new laws. It is hoped that these new rules, which prohibit online gambling advertisements on certain social media services unless the person has an account with the platform concerned, will have an effect. This is designed in part to protect underage people who have been targeted with advertisements on social media. Two glaring holes remain in the act, which suggest the gambling industry successfully forced the government to capitulate. File picture: iStock However, two glaring holes remain in the act, which suggest the gambling industry successfully forced the government to capitulate. First, the proposed watershed restriction on gambling advertisements between 5.30am and 9pm does not go far enough. How many teenagers and young people do you know who go to bed by 9pm? Part of the normalisation of gambling is advertisements are widespread. A blanket ban on ads should be considered, as was introduced with tobacco products. Secondly, there is no outright ban on free bets, as was initially envisaged in an early version of the bill. Free bets are a popular promotional tool, offering bettors a 'free bet' to encourage them to sign up to a site or service, or to reward existing gamblers for their repeated use of an online sportsbook, thereby encouraging continued use. Mr Browne said he could not accept a complete ban on free betting inducements and bonuses. This watering down of the legislation was a missed opportunity. As I was researching this article, an ad immediately popped up offering me exclusive offers for 50 free spins from a casino. Other ads followed this, all offering me "bonuses". As Senator Lynn Ruane pointed out in the Seanad when her amendment to the then bill failed: 'These types of inducements are an entry point into gambling for young people." The gambling industry's pushback was that any business needs to seek out and attract new customers proactively. But why shouldn't we approach betting companies in the way we dealt with the tobacco industry? This is what Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who introduced the highly successful workplace smoking ban as minister for health, proposed back in 2022 when he spoke about taking the same approach to gambling, including 'across the full gamut of advertising regulation'. 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Ninety per cent of gambling transactions took place online, and there was a 19% increase in gambling among 18- to 25-year-olds in the same quarter. When you have an industry as lucrative as the gambling industry, which generates significant revenue and employment, compromises will inevitably be made. But while the new legislation is being heralded as introducing a new era for the regulation of Irish gambling, it does not reflect the principles the government originally set out. Ultimately, the government bottled it, allowing gambling companies to influence our public health policy and thousands of people, many of them too young to understand what they are getting into, will pay a high price.
