Housing co-ops to be restored to society register

Cork and County Co-Operative Housing Society Limited and its sister Community Housing Co-Operative today apologised to the Circuit Civil Court for their failure to make returns of their affairs for 2012 and 2013 to the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Committee chairman Arthur Leahy told the court the failure was due to oversight and inadvertence and asked Judge Jacqueline Linnane to over-rule directions of the registrar cancelling membership of both co-ops.

Barrister Jack Tchrakian, who appeared for the co-ops with solicitors Noonan Linehan Carroll Coffey, said his clients were applying to be restored to the register much like a company might apply to be restored to the Companies Register.

Mr Leahy said all relevant taxation matters and returns had been made to the Revenue Commissioners who, together with the Registrar of Friendly Societies, were not opposing the application.

Mr Leahy said the main objective of the societies, of Wellington Square, Magazine Rd, Cork, was to provide for the relief of adversity and deprivation caused by poor housing conditions and the non-profit making provision of housing and associated amenities.

Judge Linnane over-ruled cancellation of both co-ops and directed a copy be served on the registrar. Her order will see the bodies being restored to the register.