Dr Quirkey’s owner reports full-year pre-tax loss

The company behind the popular Dublin gaming arcade Dr Quirkey's Good Time Emporium recorded gross profits of just over €5 million last year.

Newly-filed accounts show the Dublin Pool and Juke Box Co Ltd recorded a pre-tax loss amounting to €1.54 million for the 12 months ending June 2015. This compares to a €1.85 million loss a year earlier.

The company reported a gross profit, including other operating income, of €5.08 million for the 12 months ending June 2015, as against €5.74 million a year earlier.

Administative expenses totalled €3.54 million, down from €3.88 million for the preceding year.

The company's directors are former garda Richard Quirke and his wife Ann. The Tipperary-born businessman was previously behind a bid to develop a €480 million "Las Vegas-style" casino close to the village of Two-Mile-Borris.

Planning permission for the complex, which was to include a 500-bedroom, five-star hotel; a 6,000sq m casino; an all-weather racecourse; a greyhound track and a golf course, was granted by An Bord Pleanála in June 2011. However, the project has yet to proceed due to limits on the size of gambling operations allowed in Ireland.

In a note, the company said it was continuing to purchase land and properties in order to develop the casino complex.

“There is no concern regarding the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the company has adequate funds available through directors’ loans,” the firm said.

Staff costs, including directors’ salaries totalled €2 million last year.

Dublin Pool and Juke Box Co Ltd paid €803,486 in additional VAT in 2012 following a Revenue investigation due to the “application of incorrect VAT rates” to income earned in previous years.