Jim Sheridan and wife sue for €4m over house defects

FILM DIRECTOR Jim Sheridan and his wife Fran have sued for more than €4 million over allegedly defective works to their luxury home in Dalkey, Co Dublin, which, it is claimed, have resulted in water seeping into their home over a number of years.

The Sheridans intended their home, Martha’s Vineyard, Coliemore Road, designed as a four-bed-roomed house with its own seawater swimming pool, would be “one of the finest and most spectacular coastal properties in Ireland”, the court heard.

However, as a result of alleged negligence and breach of contract, the property suffers from extensive water ingress which has resulted in substantial damage to it and frustrated efforts to sell it, they claim.

Their €4 million claim includes the cost of works to address the water problem and another €2 million for estimated reduction in the value of the property. The Sheridans claim they could have sold the property for some €7 million in 2007 but two potential purchasers pulled out because the problem was not resolved.

The couple claim they are now servicing two mortgages for “two exceptionally expensive properties”, the Dalkey property and their other property in Ballsbridge, Dublin, until the water problem is resolved. If the Dalkey matter is not concluded soon, their financial position “will be unsustainable with very serious consequences”, they said.

Among claims of negligence against eight defendants, it is alleged Gilmac Building Services Ltd, a UK company now in liquidation, was negligent in installing an allegedly waterproof concrete system in 2004 and failing to carry out remedial works.

In November 2006, architects de Blacam and Meagher told Gilmac there were “real issues” which must be remedied, it is claimed. “It leaves us all very exposed and vulnerable and especially if one wants to sell the property it cannot be handed on in this state, ” de Blacam said.

While some remedial works have since been carried out by other defendants, the general problem of water ingress remains unresolved, it is claimed.

The couple claim they received valuations of €7-12 million for the property in late 2006. Had they been able to put the house on the market then, they would have sold it for up to €8 million but it is now worth €3-4.5 million due to the water problem, it is claimed.

On the application of the Sheridans’ counsel Michael Cush, the proceedings were admitted to the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly.

The case is against Simon Hollingworth and Associates Ltd, London; Gilmac, in liquidation with a registered office in London; Cementaid (UK) Ltd and Cementaid, Dublin; Moortown Construction, with offices at Bradford, West Yorkshire and Moortown Construction (Ireland) Ltd; de Blacam and Meagher Architects, Dublin; and Walsh Goodfellow, consulting and structural engineers, Dublin.