Thousands of pub owners could end up defaulting on their mortgages in the coming months, according to the organisation representing Dublin publicans.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) claims that once the six-month moratorium on mortgage repayments put in place by the banks in March expires later this month, many publicans will still be unable to afford to repay their loans.
As a result they will technically be deemed to be in default, the LVA says, a designation that could damage their credit rating.
Publicans are annoyed at the decision by the Government to delay further the reopening of pubs that do not serve food due to the level of Covid-19 still circulating in the community.