FBD pubs’ Covid compensation hearing adjourned by High Court

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The High Court adjourned the FBD pubs’ Covid compensation case on 7 April 2022, after the parties failed to resolve all outstanding issues.

Counsel for the parties told Mr Justice Denis McDonald that some progress had been made, but they had not reached agreement on all outstanding issues concerning compensation for business losses caused by pandemic closures. The judge had previously ruled that FBD’s policy covered pub losses linked to Covid-19 closures.

The judge urged the parties to cooperate and provide precise details of the issues still requiring a decision. A further hearing was needed, and the State might have to join the proceedings over pandemic subsidies paid to publicans.

The action was adjourned to a date in May. The judge said he wanted the remaining matters resolved as soon as possible and was not inclined to hear further evidence, though he did not rule that out entirely.