SEWAGE SYSTEM STINK DETERS DINGLE DINERS

RESTAURANTS in the town of Dingle, County Kerry, were forced to close on five separate occasions last month because of a foul stench of sewage.

Premises closed for up to six hours at a time because of the stink coming from a £5m sewage system installed in the town just three years ago. Guesthouses reported that some guests checked out because of the smell.

Dan O'Keefe, owner of Danno's restaurant on Strand Street, said: "We had to close our restaurant. You cannot have people booking tables when there is a smell like that around."

Kerry County Council suggested fish-processing effluent might have been released into the system, but local fish processors rejected the claim.

The council flushed out the system with powerful jets of water and the smell has now abated. But O'Keefe warned that Dingle restaurateurs would take legal action against the council if it returned.