Pub closure losses
Three Dublin pubs that brought Covid-19 business interruption test cases against insurer FBD are entitled to be indemnified for losses suffered since August 2020 as a consequence of early closing requirements imposed by the Government, the High Court has ruled.
The three pubs affected are: Aberken, trading as Sinnott’s Bar; Hyper Trust Ltd, trading as The Leopardstown Inn; and Inn on Hibernian Way Ltd, trading as Lemon & Duke.
A fourth pub, Sean’s Bar in Athlone, a wet pub, is also entitled to be indemnified for closures between March 15th, 2020 and October 7th that year, the court held, and subsequently to June 2021.
Mr Justice Denis McDonald made that and other findings in a judgment on Friday. The ruling has implications for the amount of compensation to be paid by FBD to hundreds of pubs and restaurants across the State affected by the closures and restrictions imposed.
Missing woman
The daughter of a missing Dublin woman has made an appeal asking for anyone with information to help find her mother.
Bernadette Connolly has been missing from the Swords area since Friday, January 7th.
Speaking at Donabate Strand, Ms Connolly’s daughter Jade Connolly said: “We are here today to appeal to the public and any local people that were on the beach on the day my mam went missing.
“Nollaig na mBan was the 6th of January, also known as Women’s Christmas, and my mam went missing that next day. I want to get people to think of that significant day. This beach was active that day. People walked by my mam with dogs, people walked before my mam."
Gardaí investigating the disappearance of the 45-year-old have renewed their appeal for information.
Today in the courts
Two men have been spared jail for breaking stay-at-home Covid-19 restrictions to attend an anti-lockdown protest outside the Four Courts in Dublin.
Separately, a court was told that two teenagers attacked and robbed a taxi driver outside a Garda station.
Meanwhile, a 58-year-old Independent councillor convicted of assaulting his brother and nephew arising out of an ongoing dispute over the inheritance of a family farm will be sentenced next month.
In the High Court, a man who fell on slippery tiles in the porch of his rented council home was ordered to pay back €30,000 he received in part compensation.
Finally, the trial of former Defence Forces soldier Lisa Smith was told she was proposed to by a man she lived with in Syria who produced propaganda for the Islamic State.
Pharma jobs
More than 800 jobs will be created by Eli Lilly as part of a new €400m investment into Ireland.
The pharmaceutical giant has announced that the funding will be put into building a new facility in Co Limerick.
If it secures planning approval, the facility will need 500 people in the construction phase, and will employ 300 pharma workers when finished.
Planning for the site, at Raheen Business Park near Shannon Airport and just under 5km from Limerick City centre, is due to be submitted in the coming weeks.
