Decision deferred on P Elliot wind-up petition

The High Court has adjourned for two weeks a petition seeking to have one of the country's largest construction firms P Elliott and Co. Ltd wound up.

The petition has been lodged by recruitment firm MCR Personnel, trading as the MCR group, who claim that they are owed some €1.793m by the construction firm.

When the petition came before the High Court today, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy was informed that the petition had not been advertised and the court was asked if the matter could be adjourned. The Judge agreed to put the matter back to Monday May 30.

In its petition MCR Personnel, which specialises in the recruitment of professionals for the construction industry, claims that it demanded payment of more than €1.7 from P Elliott late last year for services it says it provided for the construction firm over a six-year period.

However MCR claims that its demand has not been satisfied, and it is now seeking to have P Elliott put into liquidation as it is insolvent and unable to pay its debts.

The court was also informed construction firm is facing other winding up petitions from a number of different creditors, and there is a separate petition seeking to have the company wound is due to be heard by the High Court next week.

Companies William Cox Ireland and Oran Precast, have lodged High Court petitions seeking to have the firm wound up, while sub-contracting firm OMC Engineering had served a 21-day notice on the company seeking payment of €100,000 due for work carried out on a number of projects.

P Elliott and Co Ltd with its head office located in a purpose built 35,000 sq.ft. headquarters at Century Business Park, Dublin Road, Cavan was founded in 1942 by the late Patrick & Alice Elliott, who are the grandparents of the current owners.

It has also been involved in a number of high profile construction projects all over Ireland and in the UK. Listed among its current projects are the new medical school at the University of Limerick, The Irish Times Building D'Olier Street & Fleet Street in Dublin and the South West Acute hospital in Enniskillen.

It is also involved in the development of the athletes village at next year's Olympic games in London. At its peak in 2006, P Elliott was turning over €310m a year and employing over 500 people.