ANTI-VACCINATION campaigners are suspected of making a large number of fake bookings in bars and restaurants just days after indoor dinging resumed in the Republic.
It is believed business across the state have been targeted in a spate of malicious bookings.
Those who can prove they have received a double jab or are Covid free are now allowed to resume indoor dining after the rules were relaxed south of the border this week.
However, it emerged yesterday that some venues have been inundated by false bookings.
Some believe those opposed to the Covid-19 vaccination programme are responsible in a deliberate attempt to disrupt a return to normal trading.
John O'Brien from Doheny and Nesbitt in Dublin's Baggot Street revealed that on one day alone this week the business received up to 60 fake email bookings.
Mr O'Brien told RTÉ radio's Joe Duffy that some booking contact numbers were linked to estate agents and doctors - numbers that are publicly available.
"It's making it harder for us," Mr O'Brien said.
"We have enough to be doing with the guidelines without having to do all this as well."
Mr O'Brien believes the development is part of a deliberate policy designed to disrupt.
One woman whose details had been provided to the venue without her knowledge said she believed it was a "well orchestrated campaign to undermine the efforts that the restaurants and the pubs are making".
"They are bending over backwards to try and not discriminate against the unvaccinated," she said.
"So, I don't see why these people are pushing this and being so destructive and malicious.
"It really is not unacceptable."
John Mount, head chef and owner of the Baker's Table in Lismore in Co Waterford, said his business has also been impacted by fake bookings.
"It's been a really tough time," he said.
"We are calling them back and its just uncontactable.
"It's really tough, we only opened up six weeks ago so we are a brand new restaurant, you don't really see many of them opening up during Covid."
Mr Mount revealed that there were a number of "tables not turning up, no-shows" last weekend and "now it's the hoax bookings....destroying the business."
Mr Mount added he is looking at "a few different booking options for deposits and things like that" to try and counter the cranks.
"But I really don't want to do that, I feel like it's really not necessary for the local people who have supported me through the whole of Covid," he said.
"But I feel like there's no option, you know."
