Court rules concrete firm may call evidence dating back decades

A HIGH Court decision yesterday means Goode Concrete may be permitted to call detailed evidence of alleged serious anti-competitive practices in the cement industry dating back three decades in proceedings where it claims post-2007 below-cost selling and other unlawful practices drove it out of business.

Mr Justice John Cooke ruled yesterday that material in affidavits by the Goode side alleging anti-competitive practices prior to 2007 cannot be used in the hearing of a preliminary application by CRH plc, Roadstone Wood Ltd and Kilsaran Concrete aimed at having Goode provide €1.5 million as security for the costs of the legal proceedings against those companies.

However, that material may be admissible at the full trial of the proceedings, he stressed.