This is really taking the p*ss.
Gardaí have launched an investigation after a burglar left 15 beer taps running when they broke into an Irish pub on St Patrick's Day.
Joe Watty’s Bar in Kilronan, Inishmore in Co. Galway's Aran Islands was ransacked by a particularly spiteful individual on the morning of March 17.
The thief caused €7,000 worth of damage after breaking a window, stealing money and flooding the place with beer.
The pub's owner, PJ Flaherty, said he was "absolutely shocked" when he came across the damage later that day.
"We arrived on Saturday morning and found that the place was broken into," he told Independent.ie. "Our kitchen window was broken, money and cigarettes were stolen and the place was flooded with beer.
"The culprit left on all 15 beer taps and flooded the place. We could have had a bath in the beer there was that much on the floor."
Mr Flaherty said he was expecting a "very busy" St Patrick's Day and was devastated by the damage.
"The St Patrick's Day parade goes past our pub so we usually have a very busy crowd," he said. "It's a huge family day at our pub and we had extra staff in preparation for the day".
The publican thanked his "excellent" staff, friends and neighbours for somehow helping to clean up the mess in time to open for the parade.
"We did manage to open thank God but we lost 15 kegs of beer," he added. "Whoever did it was intent on causing as much destruction as possible. They were trying to sabotage our day for sure.
"The total damage cost us around €7,000. We're also worried that we'll have to replace the timber floor if it begins to bulge after the flooding.
"We do have some footage of the heavily disguised culprit and gardai are looking into it. We definitely have our suspicions about who it was".
Mr Flaherty added that nothing of the sort had happened in the area before.
"The locals are all shocked. The island is a very safe place. This kind of crime is unheard of in the area."
Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating the incident in the early hours of March 17.
