Whiplash secures interim injunction in brewery dispute

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

Whiplash Beer Limited secured an interim High Court injunction in a dispute over access to a shared brewery premises. The proceedings were reported on 9 October 2018.

Alex Lawes and his business partner Alan Wolfe established Whiplash in 2016. It operates at Renmore Business Park, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, from a facility owned by The Dublin Lager Company Limited, which trades as Larkins Brewing Company.

On 9 October, Rory Kennedy BL, for Whiplash, said relations between the firms had broken down. He said the defendant had banned Lawes from the brewery, although his daily access was guaranteed under their contract. The defendant had accused Lawes of bullying, an allegation that was strongly denied, counsel said.

Counsel said Whiplash had been told its contract was being terminated and it must leave by 21 December. He said this breached the agreement, which had two years left to run. Whiplash had sought an alternative premises but could not move immediately and had offered to leave by the end of March 2019.

Ms Justice Caroline Costello granted the interim injunction on an ex parte basis, with only one side represented. It prevents the defendant from interfering with Whiplash’s business or its access to the shared premises. The judge returned the matter to Thursday.