Pub on Rhys Jones estate to be closed for three months

Feb 23 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Fir Tree Pub in Croxteth Park was ordered to close for three months by Liverpool licensing officials yesterday – and must open under new management.

The pub, which received nationwide attention after 11-year-old Rhys Jones was killed in its car park, had become a magnet for gang and drug activity, a committee was told.

It was boarded up yesterday and leaseholder Keith Doyle, 50 and his family were banned from entering the premises.

Members of Liverpool City Council’s licensing committee decided not to revoke the pub’s licence, but imposed a number of conditions including the removal of Lorraine Doyle as supervisor.

Enterprise Inns, which owns the pub and banned the Doyles, have three months to find a suitable landlord and carry out refurbishments.

Speaking at the hearing Sergeant Paul Douglas, police licensing officer, outlined a catalogue of complaints dating back to April 2006.

Describing the pub as a “blot on the landscape” he said there had been reports of gang activity and two men with guns inside the pub in the month after Rhys was killed in the car park. Officers raided the pub in February and found nine ounces of cannabis and drug- related paraphernalia associated with cutting and packaging drugs.

Keith Doyle and Lorraine Doyle were arrested for possession of drugs with intent to supply and are currently on police bail.

Sgt Douglas said: “The period of time Mr Doyle was in charge was a nightmare which caused distress to residents.

“The pub was badly run and was strongly linked to gang culture. It’s a blot on the landscape and this must not be allowed to happen again.”

Steve Harding, neighbour-hood inspector for Croxteth and Norris Green, said Mr Doyle was “deluded” in his denial of events in and around the pub and had not co-operated with police on numerous occasions.

Insp Harding said: “On one occasion, I found a number of under age children in the pool area, he said he was doing them a service by keeping them off the streets.

“There has been a slow decline of the premises and it is being used for criminal activity but closing the pub forever will not benefit the community.

“By working with Enterprise Inns we can get it back to a facility where residents want to go.”

laurasharpe