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A publican has launched a ‘safe haven’ initiative in his Cork City venues to help people in difficulty while socialising in the city.
Liam Barry, who runs two pubs in the city centre and one in Blackrock, and who has a teenager now visiting the city, says he hopes other businesses will follow suit in a bid to create a safer environment for everyone.
“My own eldest ventures into town from time to time and like all parents, we worry about her safety so we hope this will help,” he said.
“I’ve seen first-hand the trouble youngsters who are just trying to enjoy a night out can encounter, and it’s not nice.
“People are quick to moan about things changing in the city, or about the lack of gardaí but I thought ‘is there something I or we can do about it?’.
“It’s our city. We need to own it. And I think this is a practical response, a position adaptation.”
He wants people to let their children know that if they find themselves in any difficulty whilst on a day or a night out in the city, whether it’s being separated from their friends, losing a phone, or even unwanted hassle from a stranger, to make their way to one of his premises.
There the staff, who have been briefed and trained on this initiative, will contact their parents and look after them until the parents arrive to collect them.
The venues are An Bodhrán on Oliver Plunkett St, where people can ask for Sharon or Peter, Goldbergs on Victoria Road, where people can ask for Lauren, James, or Sean, and The Pier Head in Blackrock where people should ask for David, Patrick, or Cormac.
Mr Barry said the idea came to him after the daughter of a friend of his became separated from her friends after a concert in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and lost her phone.
“He phoned me from home and said she was in town on her own, and could she come in to one of my pubs until he came in to collect her, and I said ‘of course’,” he said.
He discussed the safe haven idea with some garda contacts, and with other traders and publicans in the city who agreed it was a great idea.
“I feel we, as after-dark business operators, have a duty to try and provide safe opportunities for people to enjoy the city when they venture in, as we are the ones drawing them into the city,” he said.
“I’m hoping that this will develop into a more sustainable initiative and that more businesses will follow suit.
“It costs nothing and it will give many people peace of mind that their children have a safe haven to go to should they need help.”
Earlier this month, the Cork Business Association and Cork City Council launched a ‘Leave a Light On’ campaign which offers a grant to businesses who leave some of their lights on until 1am during the winter to help create a safer environment.