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Pride weekend typically marks one of the busiest periods for many businesses located in city centres. However, for Gareth McKinstry, owner of Simply Fish & Chips in Belfast, Saturday morning was overshadowed by an unfortunate incident. His shop was broken into in the early hours, forcing him to spend time filing police reports rather than serving customers. This break-in resulted in a significant loss, especially as Pride day is usually one of the busiest times of the year for his business.
The theft at Simply Fish & Chips occurred around 2:00 AM BST on Saturday. McKinstry expressed frustration over the timing, highlighting the impact it had on his trade. “Saturday was Pride day and it was meant to be one of our busiest days of the year and we lost all of our morning trade because we couldn’t open the shop until the police had finished with their investigation,” he explained. The damage to the shop included a broken window, which now requires urgent repairs as the city prepares to welcome visitors for the upcoming Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an all-Ireland festival of music and dance starting Sunday.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern; prior to this, a café owner had warned that the situation in Belfast was reaching a “tipping point” after being targeted. Since then, two additional businesses in close proximity have also been broken into, with money stolen. One of those affected is Juko café, which experienced a break-in around 2:30 AM BST on Monday. Shane McGann, a director at Juko, mentioned that the café is now reviewing security measures following the incident. He expressed hope that such events would not recur, especially so close to the Fleadh festival, which puts Belfast in the international spotlight.
The police response to the recent spate of burglaries has been proactive, with two men aged 32 and 38 arrested in connection to the Juko break-in and subsequently released on bail pending further investigations. A PSNI spokesperson urged the public to come forward with any relevant information, including CCTV or dash-cam footage, to assist with ongoing inquiries. McGann summed up their concerns by acknowledging the impact these events have on the city’s image, stating, “I suppose things like this just don’t shed Belfast in the light that we’re trying to show the city.” Meanwhile, businesses affected are focusing on repairs and preparations ahead of the festival, hoping for a safer and more positive atmosphere moving forward
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