In Oct. 2012, reports started trickling in of people sick with E. coli O157 after dining at Flicks, a Belfast restaurant.

By Nov. 2012, 137 confirmed cases and 164 probable cases of E. coli O157 had been linked to this one restaurant.

Belfast City Council brought charges, and today the restaurant bosses said they will confirm next month whether the charges will be contested.

The Belfast Telegraph reports a court case against Michael McAdam and Gabrielle Tolan over food poisoning allegedly associated with Flicks eatery was adjourned today to allow completion of a food hygiene report.

A case is also being pursued against Movie House Cinema Ltd as the owner of the restaurant. Charges against it include:

– Having no materials for cleaning or hygienically drying hands in the staff toilets and service area wash hand basin.

-Failing to keep staff toilets clean.

-Failing to ensure cooked and ready-to-eat food was not protected at all stages of production, processing and distribution against contamination with E. coli O157 likely to render the food unfit for human consumption.

-Having no soap in a preparation area wash hand basin.

-Kept chopped flat leaf parsley at a room temperature likely to support the growth of pathogenic microorganisms or the formation of toxics.