Court archive
Court reports mentioning Athenry, Galway
2025-05-01 · Sligo
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning the death of a woman in her Sligo home. The State alleges that Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens in County Mayo, strangled his mother, Angela Canavan, aged 58, on 1 May 2023. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution opening outlined that the deceased had enjoyed a successful career as a psychotherapist before developing severe alcohol dependency. She had sustained a brain injury following a fall and required periodic care. On the day in question, Mr Canavan had returned to his mother's home after work. Gardaí subsequently discovered her body in the kitchen and dining area, with evidence suggesting violent disturbance. A pathologist is expected to testify that death resulted from manual strangulation or asphyxia. The defence maintains the accused played no role in the death, asserting he discovered his mother's body after hearing noises. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo.
2023-05-23 · Galway
A High Court dispute over the estate of the late Galway farmer Margaret Hernon, valued between €2.5m and €9m, was settled. The parties agreed that half of the estate will go to Peter O'Toole, the main beneficiary of a 2006 will, and the other half will be divided among more than 40 children of Mrs Hernon's first cousins. Mr Agustus 'Gus' Kelehan, one of those cousins, had challenged the 2006 will's validity and sought it set aside. The estate includes a farmhouse at Barnacranny, 13 acres of farmland, lands in Athenry, and cash. The settlement also confirmed that the 2006 will will not be formally proven, that the estate will be administered by the parties' solicitors, and that legal costs will be borne by the estate. The judge praised the parties for resolving the dispute without a court decision on the will's validity.
2019-11-08 · Galway
Coffey Construction Limited secured a temporary High Court injunction to stop a blockade at its headquarters in Moanbaun, Athenry, Co Galway. The blockade, set up by 15 security guards, two white vans and dogs hired by receiver Mr David O'Connor of BDO, began at 7 am on the previous Tuesday. The guards, who called themselves bailiffs, did not display the required identification or licence numbers under the Private Security Services Act, and the matter was reported to the Private Security Authority. Coffey Construction, which pays €100,000 per year for a valid lease and employs 280 people (88 in Athenry), said the blockade would damage the firm and could drive it to insolvency. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, restrains the receiver and his agents from restricting access to the property. The case will return to court next week.
2017-11-01 · Galway
A High Court judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, refused to allow two local residents to appeal his decision that cleared the way for Apple to develop the first phase of an €850m data centre in Athenry, Co Galway. The judge said the residents' case did not raise a point of law of exceptional public importance or a public interest that would justify an appeal. He noted that many of the residents' arguments were a re‑argument of points already considered by An Bord Pleanala and the High Court. The residents, Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly, had claimed that An Bord Pleanala had failed to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the masterplan of eight data halls and that the Board had not addressed the energy demand and greenhouse‑gas implications.
2017-05-22 · Galway
Promontoria (Arrow) Limited has applied for summary judgment of €30.5 million against Patrick (Paddy) Kennedy of Slieverue, Athenry, Co. Galway, alleging he failed to repay loans originally advanced by AIB for land purchases between August 2006 and August 2009 and later acquired by NAMA. Promontoria, having bought the loans from NAMA in December 2015, demanded repayment and appointed receivers over Kennedy's assets, including properties in Portumna, Athenry and an apartment in Waterford. The application was heard by Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who placed the case on the fast‑track Commercial Court list, with a hearing scheduled for July.
2016-11-14 · Galway
The High Court has fast-tracked a second legal challenge against An Bord Pleanála's decision to permit Apple to build a data centre in Athenry, Co Galway. Applicant Brian McDonagh, representing himself, sought to quash the board's August decision, alleging it breaches EU forestry directives. Although McDonagh opposed the fast-track application, citing difficulties in obtaining EU documentation, Mr Justice Brian McGovern admitted the case to the Commercial Court list. Counsel for Apple Distribution International, Rory Mulcahy SC, noted that McDonagh had previously been refused permission to include the forestry argument and has appealed that ruling to the Court of Appeal. The court also heard that a separate action by Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly, who claim the board failed to conduct a proper environmental impact assessment, was admitted to the list last week. The judge ordered that both cases be heard together next March. Apple describes the proposed facility as critical infrastructure for global data storage, part of an €850m plan for eight data centres in the locality intended to create hundreds of jobs.
2016-11-07 · Galway
The High Court has fast-tracked a legal challenge to An Bord Pleanála's August decision permitting Apple to develop an €850m data centre in Athenry, Co Galway. Applicants Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly seek to quash the planning permission, alleging the board failed to conduct a proper Environmental Impact Assessment regarding the development's significant energy demands. Apple Distribution International, represented by Rory Mulcahy SC, applied for the case to be admitted to the commercial court list to resolve the matter expeditiously. Mr Justice Brian Cregan admitted the Fitzpatrick and Daly action to the fast track. Apple intends to seek the transfer of a second challenge, brought by Co Wicklow landowner Brian McDonagh, to the commercial court to have both cases heard together in March next year. However, Mr McDonagh, representing himself, objected to the transfer, claiming it would prejudice his action. Mr Justice Cregan stated that nothing would be done regarding Mr McDonagh's action until it returns before the court next Monday. The matter involving Fitzpatrick and Daly was thus admitted to the commercial list, while the procedural status of McDonagh's separate challenge remains pending further hearing.
2015-06-24 · Galway
In a 2015 High Court decision, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan dismissed a bid by property developers John and Ann Hickey to overturn an arbitrator's award of €101,000 to Ms Mary Delargy. The award arose from defects in a property at Garrai Glass, Ballydavid South, Athenry, which Ms Delargy purchased for €550,000 in 2008. After taking possession in 2009, she discovered insulation, ventilation and dampness problems and brought a claim for damages. The dispute was referred to arbitration in 2011, where the Hickeys' defence was struck out for failing to comply with a discovery order. In October 2014 the arbitrator awarded €101,000 to Ms Delargy. The Hickeys argued the contract's defect clause was deleted and the arbitrator lacked jurisdiction over major defects, but the court found no reason to set aside the award, noting the Hickeys had effectively walked away from the arbitration process and forfeited their right to challenge the final decision.