A Circuit Court judge has invited Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames and her husband to iron out their differences with a local tradesman who is suing the couple for alleged non-payment of work carried out at their home in Maree, Oranmore, Co Galway, more than two years ago.
After hearing brief submissions in the case at Galway Circuit Civil Court yesterday, Judge Gerald Keys directed both parties and their engineers to meet at the Healy Eames home to try and isolate what work is in dispute and reach agreement on the costs involved.
He directed that reports from both engineers be exchanged between the parties prior to April 20th next and said that if an agreement could not be reached, the case would be heard in full before him in May.
Michael Allen claims he is owed just under €23,000 by Ms Healy Eames and her husband Michael for plumbing work carried out at an extension to their home.
Mr Allen first took the civil action against Ms Healy Eames and her husband in June 2010 when he sued them for almost €36,000. The couple paid him €13,000, but he claims he is still owed just under €23,000.
Ms Healy Eames strongly rejects the figures and the claims by Mr Allen.
In 2007, she and her husband applied for planning permission to knock their home in Maree, Oranmore and build a new house on the same site. Original plans for an adjacent garage were extended during the construction phase to include a 400sq ft meeting room.