Other court news in brief
Catering firm may seek €3m compensation
A catering company is seeking €3 million compensation if it fails to secure a renewal of a lease for a café and bar in the Four Courts where it has been operating since 1977.
The High Court yesterday granted Campbell Catering Ltd an injunction permitting it to continue operating the cafe and bar pending a full hearing of its action and restraining the termination of its lease agreement.
The injunction was granted to Gerard Hogan SC, for Campbell's, by Mr Justice Peter Charleton who adjourned the case for mention in October.
The company has brought its case against the Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) and the State and the defendants neither consented nor objected to the injunction.
The company claims that, under an agreement dated January 18th, 1977, the CPW granted it a lease for the Four Courts premises for an initial period of one year at a reserved yearly rent of €761.84. It claims it has since then exclusively occupied and paid the agreed rent as reviewed from time to time.
Bank sues couple over €4.6m loan
A bank has brought a legal action for orders requiring a couple to repay a €4.6 million loan issued to them to purchase and restore a Georgian residence on 95 acres in Co Westmeath.
The proceedings by ACCBank plc against Adrian and Deirdre Murphy relate to Vastina House, Castletown Geoghegan, and were admitted to the list of the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly.
ACC claims it lent the couple €4.25 million in March 2006 to assist in the purchase of Vastina House, which dates back to the 1700s, and had later loaned other sums to complete restoration works.
Addict gets six years for burglary
A heroin addict who came to court with "only his shirt on his back" has been given a six-year sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt for his role with a female accomplice in 19 burglaries over 13 months.
William Duff (34) and Wanita Delaney (28) together stole a range of items including €60 in cash, assorted jewellery, six cameras, six laptops and a flat-screen television.
Duff, Chapelizod Hill Road, Chapelizod, pleaded guilty to seven burglaries.
Delaney, Blessington Street near the city centre, pleaded guilty to eight burglaries and three charges of trespass with intent to commit theft. She is in custody awaiting sentence in November.
Seán Gillane, defending, said Duff had abused solvents "since he could effectively walk and talk" and his family background could be characterised as "ferocious deprivation".
"He comes to court with only his shirt on his back," he added, asking Judge Delahunt to accept that none of the offences involved violence.
Judge Delahunt suspended the last year of the sentence having taken into account the efforts Duff had made to rehabilitate since his remand in custody.