Sheriff takes over office of solicitor Kean and seizes his antique furniture
THE offices of well-known solicitor Gerald Kean have been taken over by the Dublin City Sheriff in what appears to be related to debts of more than €280,000.
Shortly after 8am yesterday, staff from the Sheriff’s office and a locksmith arrived at the premises of Mr Kean on Upper Pembroke Street in Dublin’s south inner city.
They gained entry after a worker went in, and it is understood they requested her to leave so they could carry out their work under the terms of an execution order.
Documents obtained by the Irish Independent show that Mr Kean has three orders listed against him.
The first is for €60,307.33; the second is for €179,317.37; and the third is for €41,119.03.
The issue dates of the orders begin in September last year, with the last one issued on February 1 this year.
After gaining access, the Sheriff staff changed the lock on the front door and began to remove items from the offices.
These included a number of chairs and tables, as well as large ornate cabinets with inlaid wood designs.
A large painting, carried by two men, was also taken from the office.
A number of security guards remained in the building afterwards, and the locks were changed.
Mr Kean told the Irish Independent that the matter related to a move to a new office which became delayed.
He said he had agreed to leave the Pembroke Street offices by January 31.
“Unfortunately I ran into terrible difficulty because I had been offered premises all over the city but they weren’t suitable to my business and unfortunately I couldn’t get out at the end of January,” he said.
“Only this week did I secure a premises which I was hoping to move into next week but I’m actually moving into sooner with the consent of the landlord,” he added.
He said he could not supply the address of the new premises because he still had to sign the lease on it.
“I left it too late. To be fair to the landlord, I should have secured them earlier but I couldn’t do it.
“I should have put more time and effort into it, and to be fair I can’t criticise the landlord, they didn’t see one thing being moved this week, not even the signs off the doors,” Mr Kean explained. “But I have access to get my stuff, all my files and everything will be moved this afternoon and tomorrow or Sunday into my new premises.”