FILM DIRECTOR Jim Sheridan and his wife Fran have settled their High Court action over allegedly defective works to their luxury seafront home in Dalkey, Co Dublin.
The Sheridans claimed they faced serious financial problems due to alleged defective works to “Martha’s Vineyard”, Coliemore Road, Dalkey. They sought some €4 million against a number of companies involved in the project, alleging the works have resulted in water seeping into their home over a number of years.
The claims were denied.
The case was due to open on Tuesday but talks began between the sides and concluded yesterday with a confidential settlement.
Afterwards, Mr Sheridan said he was happy with the outcome, it was “a good day in court” but he was “glad to be out of there”. It was “a stressful but interesting experience”. Asked if he would be “having a pint in Mulligan’s tonight”, he chuckled and said: “Yes”.
Announcing the settlement before Mr Justice Brian McGovern, Eoin McCullough SC, for the Sheridans, said the proceedings could be struck out against all parties with an order against the project manager, the architects and the consulting engineer for taxation of the plaintiffs’ costs of suing all the defendants. Notices of indemnity against all parties in the case could also be struck out, counsel said.
Mr Justice McGovern said he was very pleased the parties had resolved their difficulties.
The case was brought against project managers and quantity surveyors Simon Hollingworth and Associates Ltd, Amsterdam Road, London; architects De Blacam and Meagher of St Catherine’s Lane West, Dublin, and cement experts Cementaid (UK) Ltd, Crawley, West Sussex and Cementaid, Clifton House, Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.
It was also against consulting engineers Walsh Goodfellow, Adelaide Chambers, Peter Street, Dublin; builders Moortown Construction, with offices at Bradford, West Yorkshire; and Moortown Construction (Ireland) Ltd, Churchfield, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo.
An eighth defendant, Gilmac Building Services Ltd, with a registered office c/o Grant Thornton UK LLP, Melton Street, London, has been in liquidation since 2007 and judgment has already been obtained against it in these proceedings.
The Sheridans had claimed they intended that “Martha’s Vineyard”would be “one of the finest and most spectacular coastal properties in Ireland”.
However, they claimed, as a result of alleged negligence and breach of contract, the property suffers from extensive water ingress which has resulted in substantial damage to it and frustrated efforts to sell it. Their €4 million claim included the cost of works to address the water problem and another €2 million for estimated reduction in the value of the property.
The couple claimed they could have sold it for €7 million in 2007 but two potential purchasers, who were aware of the water problem, pulled out because it was not resolved. They also claimed they are now servicing mortgages for the Dalkey property and their other property at St Mary’s Road, Ballsbridge.
The Sheridans bought the Dalkey property, then a fisherman’s cottage in 1997 with the aim of developing a new house and rockpool on the site. De Blacam’s were formally appointed as architects in August/September 2000 and designed a four bedroomed house with its own seawater swimming pool.
In 2002, Hollingworth was appointed project manager and in 2003, an agreement was reached with Gilmac to build the house and pool for €2.2 million. It is alleged Gilmac was engaged by either or both of the Moortown firms as a sub-contractor to lay the waterproofing concrete works which were completed in May 2004.
De Blacam issued a certificate of practical completion in July 2005 but had to write to Gilmac on several occasions requiring it to return to do remedial works primarily related to water ingress, it was alleged.