Mary Flannery’s hotel company dispute settled after mediation

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

The Commercial Court was told on 11 January 2022 that a dispute brought by Mary Flannery over the running of Foxfield Inns DAC had been settled following mediation. Mr Justice Denis McDonald welcomed the settlement.

Foxfield owns the Ashling Hotel in Dublin, the Imperial Hotel in Galway and several rented commercial and residential properties. A subsidiary owns and runs the Eglington Hotel in Salthill, Galway.

Mary Flannery had claimed that the respondents acted oppressively, infringing her rights concerning the company. Her brothers Frank Flannery and Kevin Flannery, Kevin’s wife Sheelagh Flannery, and the company’s auditor and accountant James Norton denied or rejected the claims against them.

Her sister Andrena Moynihan was subsequently joined as a respondent on her own application. Mary Flannery had not initially brought proceedings against her, and no allegations were made against her.

Lyndon MacCann SC, for Mary Flannery, said the overall settlement terms were confidential. He said it had been agreed that the court could make orders requiring Foxfield to purchase Mary Flannery’s and Andrena Moynihan’s shareholdings. If necessary, the action could be re-entered before the court to enforce the settlement. The judge adjourned the matter for mention in April.