Food hall refusal costs Dunnes €10m

THE “unreasonable” refusal to grant permission for the operation of a high-quality food hall and wine store at Dunnes Stores Ilac Centre branch in Dublin is costing the company €10 million, the High Court was told yesterday.

Dunnes Stores (Ilac Centre) Ltd has brought proceedings against the co-owners of the Ilac premises — Irish Life Assurance plc and Joseph O’Reilly — over the refusal of permission.

On the application of Mr Brian O’Moore SC, for Dunnes, Mr Justice Peter Kelly entered the proceedings yesterday into the list of the Commercial Court, the commercial division of the High Court. The judge made directions for the exchange of legal pleadings and returned the matter to October 15 for further directions.