Three companies associated with Cassidy Brothers Concrete Products Ltd have been added as defendants in a landmark High Court case for homeowners affected by the defective concrete blocks crisis.
Cassidy Brothers Topmix Limited, Cranford Concrete Limited and Moyle Plant Limited are now named as defendants in the six lead cases taken by Defective Blocks Ireland CLG in the Commercial Court.
The legal action, led by Coleman Legal, aims to achieve a genuine 100% redress by fully restoring the losses of homeowners.
Coleman Legal say that it was not always clear which Cassidys company supplied the defective building products in each individual case.
“All of the companies above, as well as Cassidy Brothers Concrete Products Limited, provided receipts to various clients for the supply of “Cassidys products” at some point or another,” said an update from the legal team.
The outcome of the six lead cases will determine the thousands of additional cases included in a multi-party action.
Coleman Legal are now looking into the most time and cost-efficient way of adding the three additional Cassidys companies to the remaining cases in the group litigation. Almost 2,000 homeowners are included in the mass legal action, with the majority having their fees covered by privately funded by business interests in Donegal.
Central to these cases is the claim that Cassidy Brothers Concrete Products Ltd. sold building materials, namely concrete and blocks, that did not meet the standards for safe construction.
High Court proceedings were issued earlier this year against Cassidy Brothers Concrete Products Ltd, Donegal County Council and the National Standards Authority of Ireland. As of this month, defences were given from DCC and NSAI in each of the lead cases. The Cassidys Defences remain outstanding.
In an update to homeowners this week, Coleman Legal said that a planned inspection of Cassidy’s quarry was delayed by poor weather. The first physical inspection is now expected to take place later this month.
Defective Blocks Ireland CLG, is a not-for-profit organisation founded by Buncrana businessmen Adrian Sheridan and Shaun Hegarty. The pair have welcomed the support and endorsement of the Mica Action Group for its ongoing High Court legal action.