Leinster House had an unelected rat in the special bar reserved for politicians this evening.
The four-legged visitor was spotted by staff in the late afternoon and the panic that ensued led to the Members’ Bar being closed for almost an hour.
The all-clear was eventually given at half four and business as usual has just resumed with a busy evening’s of eating and drinking by TDs and Senators in the private bar set to continue uninterrupted by anymore furry friends.
The Irish Mirror spoke to one of the ratcatchers involved in the sting to get rid of the unwanted visitor.
He explained that there was some construction work underway in recent weeks that allowed the rat inside the hallowed halls of the historic house.
“They were doing that work here recently on the glass corridor, removing it for some work, so that’s where he probably came in from.
“Listen, it’s an old building, these things happen.
“He hadn’t been signed in to be here,” the staff member joked.
“He was an unwanted visitor, one with no mandate,” he added.
A veteran staff member told the Mirror that she had never witnessed a lapse in security like this in all her years working in the hospitality services at Leinster House.
