Dance and music star Michael Flatley has lost his court bid to stop an insurance company cancelling his insurance policy on his Co Cork mansion Castlehyde House.
The latest development means that the mansion outside Fermoy will not have insurance from March 8th next unless Mr Flatley can find another insurer to step in and provide cover for the protected structure on the Blackwater River.
In the High Court on Wednesday, Ms Justice Eileen Roberts refused Mr Flatley an injunction to prevent his insurance company Hiscox Societe Anonyme from cancelling the policy from March 8th next.
The policy which insures Castelhyde for €30million and costs Mr Flatley €5,773 in a monthly premium had been due to run until November 2024, but the insurance company had by letter informed the former Riverdance star of its intention to invoke the cancellation clause on his household insurance policy from next month.
The letter which gave 30 days notice of the cancellation of the policy from March 8th said:” It has come to our attention that the occupancy of the household we insure for you appears to now differ from our understanding of same at policy inception and renewal."
The court heard Mr Flatley who also has homes in Monaco, Italy and London, used Castlehyde for two to four months a year.
Mr Flatley in an affidavit said he had been forced to vacate Castlehyde in October 2023, and he said this was communicated to the insurance company via a broker.
He said it is not possible for Castlehyde to be occupied due to its current condition. He said there was a full-time housekeeper and the gate lodge was also occupied.
Hiscox SA maintained it was not notified that Mr Flatley was not in occupation of Castlehyde when the insurance policy was renewed to run from November 2023.
In his affidavit to the court, Mr Flatley said if the insurance policy was allowed to be cancelled, Castlehyde House which dates back to 1790 may be in jeopardy as there will be no insurance cover. He said he is also doubtful if any insurance company would take over the insurance of Castlehyde House considering the ongoing legal proceedings.
“I say Castlehyde is a unique structure and the interests of justice favour its protection,” Mr Flatley said.
The former Riverdance star has already brought proceedings against several parties before the commercial division of the High Court over an alleged €30 million worth of damage caused to Castlehyde.
In the latest development, Mr Flatley went to court seeking injunctive relief over the insurance cancellation plans by Hiscox SA pending a full hearing on that matter.
In her judgement Ms Justice Roberts said Mr Flatley had not identified any basis or requirement that he is obliged by law or otherwise to maintain a policy of insurance for Castlehyde or that he cannot enjoy the property without the policy remaining in place.
She said he had not established an inability to secure alternative insurance cover for the remainder of the policy.
“ I find in all the circumstances that the balance of justice favours the refusal of injunctive relief in this case,” the judge said.
Mr Flatley, the judge said, will either have to source alternative insurance or remain uninsured for the policy period.
The judge said she was sure every effort would be made by Mr Flatley to mitigate the risks this poses for him.
