Pub in Limerick village ordered to close kitchen area due to public health concerns

A PUB in west Limerick was ordered to close its kitchen area after a HSE inspector visited the premises just before Christmas.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has confirmed a closure order was served on the proprietor of Casey's Pub, Raheenagh, between Newcastle West and Dromcollogher, following an inspection which was carried out on December 2, 2022. 

The order, which according to the FSAI website, remains in place only applies to the kitchen area and a number of storage rooms at the premises which were being used for food preparation.

A report from the HSE inspector, published this Tuesday, shows concerns emerged during the visit about the size and physical condition of the kitchen area.

"A small kitchen without adequate working space was used to store and prepare food. This lack of space did not permit good food hygiene practices, including protection against contamination as raw and ready to eat food were stored beside each other," states the report.

"The kitchen had no windows or mechanical ventilation to prevent condensation. The ceiling board was broken with loose exposed plaster board over open food and a chopping board for sandwiches, with a direct risk of the shedding of particles into food," it added.

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The inspectors also expressed concerns about the lack of adequate hand-washing facilities and the use of store rooms for food preparation.

"One very old store room of which loose natural stones and mortar formed part of the wall structure and which was crumbling. There was no ceiling, the roof was exposed wooden beams and wiring, covered in cobwebs and dust; the structure did not avoid or minimise the risk of air-borne contamination for food ingredients stored here," states the report.

During the visit, the inspector noted that an open bucket of ash from a fireplace was being stored beside a tray of eggs and tinned beans. An adjacent keg store with cold room was also used being used for food storage and production.

"There were two hot oil fryers for meat products and chips and a tureen of hot soup balanced on a beer keg," stated the inspectors.

According to the FSAI, Casey's pub was one of six premises across the country which were served with closure orders during December.