More than three months after she was forced to leave the pub that had been in her family for 50 years, publican Helen Waterman walked into The Junction Bar in the Co Cork village of Glounthaune and told the manager to leave.
The mother of four, who owes €1 million to Bank of Scotland, then took delivery of some barrels of beer and began preparing to open the doors to customers for the Ireland vs Spain match last night. KPMG was appointed as receiver last February and appointed new management to run the pub.
Ms Waterman, who ran the bar for 32 years, accompanied by her partner Aliraza Karyhadi, her daughter Helen jnr and members of the organisation People for Economic Justice, told the manager yesterday she was taking over.
Shortly after, Ben Gilroy of People for Economic Justice went to the KPMG offices on South Mall, on behalf of Ms Waterman, and served written notice that its position as receiver was being terminated.
“This is my mortgage, this is my licence, this is my premises and I’m taking back possession,” she said. She said she wanted to negotiate with the bank on her mortgage.
A spokesman for KPMG said the receiver was seeking a meeting with the owner.