County Council is owed €4,000

AN ORDER was granted to Wexford County Council by Judge Gerard Jones against Thomas White and Son (Construction) Limited of Ballyclemlock, Newbawn. The order prohibited the repair or letting of the old Carriage Factory at Springvalley in Enniscorthy until more than €4,000 is paid to the council.

Solicitor Caitriona Walsh asserted that this was the sum owed by the company to the local authority.

The money was due to cover the cost of calling in a contractor to make the Carriage Factory safe, she said.

This action was permitted under the terms of the Sanitary Services Act, Ms Walsh explained.

Thomas White responded that the company was not in a position to pay the €4,000 though Judge Gerard Jones warned him that this was not a legal defence to the county council’s action.

‘I won’t be paying,’ insisted White who said that the property – which he described as a site – was being sold.

Ms Walsh said that contractors Belcon were called in during December in response to concerns about the gates and pits at the factory.

The cost came to €4,474 and the solicitor confirmed that this money remained outstanding.

‘ The work needed to be done in a hurry,’ she said.

Judge Jones felt that the local authority had acted properly before confirming that the full amount must be paid.

He also directed that the firm must also stump up €800 legal costs.