A barrister acting for a man who has been renting a commercial premises in Co Meath has told a court that his client had not been able to vacate the premises on foot of a court order because he had been ill. John McCoy was speaking on behalf of his client Bernard Murphy, Grangeboyne, Kilmessan who has been renting the premises from Seamus Mullen. Mr Mullen brought a case to Navan District Court on Friday seeking an order for attachment (a court order that authorises the seizure of a debtor’s property or assets or funds of a debtor to secure a claim or judgement against them). It was stated in court that Mr Murphy had failed to comply with a court order of 23rd May .
Mr McCoy said that 15 tonnes of specialist machinery had been moved and his client needed more time to move other machinery. He was looking for 12 weeks to do so. Judge Eirinn McKiernan was told that the case had been in the court system for three years. Representatives of Mr Mullen said that no more time should be allowed and that Mr Murphy should be granted a week to comply with the court order. They also claimed that Mr Murphy was not paying the agreed rent for the premises.
Mr Murphy gave evidence that he had been ill and in and out of the Mater Hospital. Asked why he had not brought medical evidence to that effect he said he wasn’t aware that he would have to bring it to court. The judge said that to be fair to Mr Murphy there were medical records available in the file but she said that the last thing she wanted was for Mr Murphy to end up in custody. She told him that he had agreed to vacate the premises and to pay the rent. The judge ordered that the premises should be vacated by 11th July next and that Mr Murphy should pay a sum of €500 in rent.
