The High Court yesterday made an order formally appointing three trustees to the Workers' Party premises at the Thomas Ashe Hall in Cork.
The three trustees, appointed under the terms of the Trustees Act, are the WP general secretary, Mr Patrick Quearney, Mr Sean Garland and Mr Sean McCarthy.
Making the application on behalf of Mr Quearney, Mr Seamus O Tuathail said the Thomas Ashe Hall at Father Mathew Quay (formerly Charlotte Quay), Cork, had been bought by the then Sinn Fein party through its trustees in 1920. Since that date the premises had been in the possession and use of the party, now known as the Workers' Party.
He said three men who had been the original trustees - a Mr O'Sullivan, a Mr Riordan and a Mr Murphy - were not known of since the 1950s and the WP could find no trace of them.
Counsel said it had been established there had been trustees since about 1956. Although Mr Quearney, Mr Garland and Mr McCarthy were named as trustees three or four years ago, they were not in a position to deal with the premises because of the legal situation.
Another problem was that it was believed the original title deeds to the premises were lost when the hall was destroyed by fire and explosion in the 1920s, and his clients were relying on memorials of the lease of 1920.
Consenting to the application, Mr Justice O'Sullivan said he would make an order appointing the three as trustees to the premises and an additional order investing the premises in them.