School gets injunction to stop unpaid subcontractors removing property

A newly opened primary school in Co Limerick last night obtained a High Court injunction to prevent subcontractors removing goods over money they say they are owed by the main contractor.

A convoy of vans pulled into the school yard at Kilfinane national school yesterday afternoon as pupils were about to leave.

Subcontractors who had worked on the school, which opened only two months ago, began removing furniture, doors and other equipment over money they claim they are owed by the main contractor who completed the school after the first contractor got into difficulties.

Parents rushed to the school and blockaded the entrance with cars. The subcontractors were served with copies of the injunction that ordered them to put back all property they had put into their vans parked in the school yard.

Liam Moloney, who has a son in sixth class, said: “The electricity and water were turned off. One of the teachers got me to go in with her to restore the electricity as I am an electrician. A lot of stuff seemed to have been taken.”

Late last night, the subcontractors met with parents to outline the hardship they faced due to the main contractor not paying them for goods supplied.

Local Labour county councillor David Moloney said there was a lot of sympathy for the subcontractors, some of whom are local.

One subcontractor, Seamus Cusack, owner of Dovetail fitted furniture in Murroe, Co Limerick, says he is owed €19,000.

“We finished our work on Sept 1 and cannot get paid by the main contractor. We supplied a lot of fitted furniture such as sink units, doors to units. I have removed some. This was a last resort as we have been trying to get money we are owed.

“The main contractor was not even prepared to talk to us and when he did was making silly offers like 40%.

“This has been going on for years with subcontractors being hit and the Government is doing nothing to protect people like me. I am owed a significant amount of money.”