Firms seek to overturn ruling over CRH ‘bias’

Companies of businessman Seamus Maye are seeking to overturn a High Court decision halting their action alleging that they were forced out of business due to the alleged operation of a cartel in the cement industry by cement giant CRH.

Mr Justice John Cooke halted the companies’ actions in July after finding that “manifestly inordinate” and inexcusable delay in prosecuting the case since it was initiated in late 1996 had seriously prejudiced the defendants’ rights to a fair trial.

The companies are now seeking to have that decision overturned on grounds of “objective bias” by Mr Justice Cooke arising from his having had a shareholding in CRH.