A family wrongly accused of leaving a pub without paying their £150 bill have been awarded £75,000 in damages.
Peter and Ann McGirr were publicly shamed by the Horse and Jockey pub in Tideswell, Derbyshire, which condemned their "shocking behaviour" in a Facebook post.
The pub later discovered the family had actually paid in full.
The erroneous social media post accused the family of enjoying lavish meals, including £27 ribeye steaks and £15.25 gammon steaks, along with several drinks, before allegedly leaving without settling their £150 bill.
Peter and Ann McGirr were publicly shamed by the Horse and Jockey pub in Tideswell, Derbyshire, which condemned their 'shocking behaviour' in a Facebook post
The pub even shared CCTV images of the McGirrs dining at the establishment.
These allegations were subsequently repeated across multiple media outlets, branding the family as "dine-and-dashers".
However, it later emerged that the group had in fact paid their bill in full.
A member of staff at the pub had forgotten to ring the transaction through the till.
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Following the verdict, Carol McGirr, daughter of Peter and Ann, released a statement on Facebook
This administrative error led to the false accusations against the family from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
The McGirrs subsequently sued the pub for libel based on these "serious and defamatory accusations".
Belfast Crown Court heard on Friday that the family had suffered significant embarrassment and reputational damage.
Peter Girvan, the barrister representing the McGirrs, told the court: "These articles contained serious and defamatory accusations that the plaintiffs had engaged in dishonest and criminal conduct."
Peter and Ann McGirr paid the bill in full and later left the pub
The pub agreed to pay £75,000 in damages as well as the family's legal costs.
It accepted there was "no basis whatsoever" for the allegations and apologised.
The pub had previously issued a statement in July last year blaming the error on an "inexperienced member of staff".
They explained the employee had taken payment via card machine but failed to print the bill on the till.
"There was no dishonesty involved from our staff, it was an honest mistake but we have dismissed the member of staff responsible for the error," the statement read.
Following the verdict, Carol McGirr, daughter of Peter and Ann, said in a statement on Facebook: "Ten months later.. thank god it's all over and our names are cleared."
She added: "Tip for all our friends and family: don't pay for your food and drink before you eat as this is what can happen.. plus use a card otherwise we had no evidence of payment."
The post received supportive comments from friends expressing sympathy for their ordeal.
