Senator’s husband ordered to pay €12k

A civil action brought by a contractor against Senator Fidelma Healy Eames has been dismissed, but an order for €12,412 was made against her husband Michael.

Judge Rory McCabe found in favour of Michael Allen at Galway Circuit Court, who had sued the couple for money owed for plumbing and heating works at their home in Maree, Oranmore, Co Galway, three years ago.

They had denied his claims, and counter-sued for shoddy workmanship.

“The fact the defendants tried to rewrite the contract, and force the plaintiff to accept a deal for less than the agreed price, speaks for itself,” said Judge McCabe.

He also described as “implausible” Mr Eames’s version of events — that Mr Allen had carried out work on the couple’s garage without being instructed to do so — adding it was “unthinkable that a contractor would do it on spec”.

Ms Healy Eames became emotional in court yesterday when she said the rebuild had been 12 years in the planning.

She disputed the claim made by Mr Allen that she had been in a hurry to have work on the garage completed, so as to provide offices for Fine Gael and a boardroom upstairs.

The court heard she had little involvement with Mr Allen throughout the project. On one occasion, he had offered to bring her to Tuam Heating and Plumbing on Jun 20, 2009, so they could choose sanitary wear for the house.

“I thought it was wise, he was with me all day,” she said. “He had the dimensions, he knew what was needed. I went around the store with the owner and with Michael Allen. I had a budget and there was no discussion that something was not suitable.”

Mr Allen had told the court additional costs were incurred for works to accommodate the jacuzzi chosen by Ms Healy Eames for the master ensuite.

When asked why he had not advised his client about this, he told counsel for Mr and Mrs Eames, Deirdre Browne: “If she wanted a jacuzzi bath that size, she was getting it… Fidelma is a very intelligent person, she knows what she wants.”

Judge McCabe dismissed any claim made against Ms Healy Eames, whom he was satisfied was not “intimately involved” in the contract.

The judge was critical about the “invitation” to return to work, sent by their solicitor to the plaintiff. “It was a set-up letter, written with no real intent of committing the plaintiff to start back at work,” he said.

He made an order against Mr Eames for €12,412.97, deducting the monies paid by the homeowners to other tradesmen working on the project. He also granted costs to Mr Allen.