Meadows and Byrne 'locked out' of outlet by docklands authority

Homewares retailer Meadows and Byrne has confirmed it was “locked out” of its outlet in Dublin’s CHQ buildings overnight on Thursday by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Meadows and Byrne group finance director Robert Reardon said staff arrived at the premises yesterday to discover the shop had been locked. A fax had been sent by the authority overnight informing the firm of the move, Mr Reardon said.

He confirmed the company was engaged in a dispute process with the authority, but said he was not in a position to speak about the nature of that dispute. He said the authority had warned that a lockout might be imposed at the premises but had not given prior warning of its implementation on Thursday night/Friday morning.

It was unlikely the shop would reopen over the bank holiday weekend, Mr Reardon said.

A spokesman for the authority could not be contacted last night.