Rugby star and wife in court over luxury kitchen dispute

Rugby star Ronan O’Gara and his wife, Jessica, were at the courthouse at Washington Street in Cork yesterday for a civil case concerning a dispute about allegedly outstanding payments for a luxury kitchen at their home in Cork.

The case was first in the list of cases for hearing before Judge David Riordan at Cork Circuit Court yesterday, but the parties asked for time to discuss a possible settlement of the action.

By lunchtime barrister, Colmán Ó Donnchadha, for the plaintiff, House of Coolmore Limited, said, “With the consent of all parties the matter can be struck out.”

Noting this development from the discussions between lawyers for the suppliers of the kitchen, Coolmore, and the defendants in the civil action, Ronan and Jessica O’Gara of Maryborough Hill, Douglas, Cork, Judge David Riordan said, “The matter is struck out with no order.”

Plaintiff, House of Coolmore Limited of Raheens, Carrigaline, Co Cork, brought the case in respect of an agreement allegedly made between themselves and Mr and Mrs O’Gara in June 2006 that they would supply and install a kitchen with appliances and other furniture.

The terms of the payment of the agreement were allegedly that that portion of the monies would be paid to the plaintiff with the balance being discharged by the defendants providing to the plaintiff image rights in respect of photographs of the defendants taken within the supplied kitchen.

The kitchen was supplied by September 2006 at a cost of €76,166. It was alleged by the plaintiff that he received a payment of €35,238 leaving a balance of €40,928 due.

In July 2008 the plaintiff paid a photographer to take promotional photographs of the couple in the new kitchen. The plaintiff alleged that in October 2008 the defendants refused to approve the promotional photographs for publication.

The plaintiff claimed that the defendants failed to approve the photographs or to pay the sums due. This was what would have been at issue if the case had gone to trial.

There were no details given on the manner in which it was resolved.