Bridal shop owners shut second store

THE owners of a bridal shop, shut down because of money troubles leaving scores of brides-to-be without their wedding gowns, yesterday confirmed a second store has closed.

A spokesman for The Wedding Dress on Penrose Wharf, Cork, said a shop in Kenmare, Co Kerry, has also shut its doors.

He said the reason was “the same situation” as with Penrose Wharf - financial difficulties. He said the Kenmare shop, which opened just before Christmas, did not have many orders to fill.

He also said it was “looking very likely” that all 183 outstanding orders at their Penrose Wharf outlet would be met and that “everyone will get their dress”.

However, the Irish Examiner contacted a number of customers of The Wedding Dress yesterday, and only one had received her gown.

More than 50 dresses were couriered to brides-to-be on Thursday, according to solicitor for The Wedding Dress Ltd, Eugene Carey. A further 30 were sent out yesterday. One girl, Joanne Corcoran from Midleton, Co Cork, who is getting married today, received her dress, according to her future sister-in-law, Bridget O’Sullivan.

Josephine Carey, aged 28, from Cobh, Co Cork, parted with €4,000 for her dress and suits for the groom’s party. She is due to get married on May 19. Yesterday she rang the British company from whom her dress is ordered, but they said they had not received payment.

Josephine then contacted Brendan Linehan, husband to owner of The Wedding Dress Judith Linehan, and he made the payment. Josephine must wait another two weeks to get her dress.

“I can’t do anything about the boys’ suits, but at least it’s something if I get my own outfit,” she said.

Emma McConnell, aged 32, from Wexford, was told the dressmaker had her dress.

Her wedding is set for April 28. Yesterday, when contacted by Emma, the dressmaker said she did not have her dress.

Emma told RTÉ’s Gerry Ryan show yesterday: “The most distressing part of it really is my grandmother passed away this Sunday last year, and she had left me money in her will. It wasn’t a great deal but it was a lot to her and it meant a lot to me and that was used for my wedding dress.”

Vicky Hudson, aged 32, from Carrigaline, Co Cork, has discovered her dress is still in Perth, Australia.

She is due to wed on September 9 and has paid the best part of €2,000 for her gown.

“If it’s in Perth, I’d say I’ve no hope of getting it in time unless I pay for a new gown,” she said.

All customers of The Wedding Dress were asked to fax their details, including receipts, to Eugene Carey’s office yesterday.

Those who have paid for their dresses in full are most likely to be compensated. Brides-to-be whose weddings are imminent will be given priority treatment. A liquidator will be appointed at a meeting on April 7 in Cork’s Imperial Hotel.

* Judith Linehan’s home address appears in the Company Registration Office records as 5 Millbrook Close, Sallybrook, Glanmire, Co Cork. However, she has never lived at this address.