The owner of a Co Louth pub has spoken out after a number of children were “punched, kicked and spat on” during a charity Halloween haunted house event.
The angry and upset man Danny Fitzpatrick, owner of Fitzpatrick’s Bar in Jenkinstown, County Louth, said he is appalled at how a number of young people aged between eight and 22 were disgracefully attacked last weekend.
Mr Fitzpatrick said he is deeply shocked and saddened at what occurred and said the charity event had never encountered behaviour like it before.
An emotional Mr Fitzpatrick told reporters: “I’ve been doing this seven years, this is completely new to me.” “In the past, I’ve had some items stolen but nothing serious. But the last couple of nights has been different.”
It’s is understood a number of kids were attacked by a group of young men aged between 15 and 25. Speaking about the attack Mr Fitzpatrick explained: “Some of them were getting hair pulled, one got punched in the face, one got punched in the back.” “They were spat at, called names, kicked at.”
“Kids were in tears over their treatment. Parents have been very angry with me.”
He also said he has not yet informed the Gardaí but will increase security at the event, which runs until two days after Halloween.
Adding: “From tonight I’m going to have people throughout the area monitoring what’s going on. “If anything happens, kids can easily get to security and report it.”
“There’s a huge volume of people who come through this event. Last night (Saturday), we had about 2,000 people. “If we can identify the culprits, we will get the Gardaí in right away.”