Sub-contractors picket new hotel

MORE than a dozen angry sub-contractors picketed a new upmarket hotel in Kerry to highlight the money they claim they are owed by the developers who built the premises.

Redcorn Developments, who held the main contract for the construction of the Watermarque Hotel in Cahirciveen, recently went into receivership and it is estimated that as many as 35 local sub-contractors are owed up to €750,000 from the project.

However, the operators of the hotel, who were leasing the property from Redcorn and are dealing with the receivers, say they have nothing to do with the owed money and that pickets are putting their business in jeopardy.

One of the firms involved in the sub-contracting of the work, Curran Construction, say they are owed €140,000 while others include a window seller who is owed about €60,000 and a tiler who is down €40,000.

“There’s a lot of anger around and a lot of frustration,” said Noel Curran of Curran Construction.

Following a meeting earlier in the week, the sub-contractors decided to hold the picket to highlight their plight. Some have already held meetings with the banks, while legal advice has also been sought in relation to recovering the money that is owed by Redcorn.

The Watermarque Boutique Hotel and Spa opened its doors for business last August and it was around Christmas time that some of those involved in its construction realised that all was not right with the developers. The development also included 12 apartments.

Director of Watermarque Hotel Ltd, Tom Murray, said the company was leasing the hotel from Redcorn Developments.

“Now the bank is my landlord,” he said.

Mr Murray warned that continued protesting would endanger the hotel business and its 30 jobs. “I don’t owe these people a penny... Their issue is with the people who built the hotel.”