Restaurant owners claim €1m loss after Gerald Kean advice

The owners of a restaurant are claiming in the High Court that they have lost more than €1m due to the alleged negligence of high-profile solicìtor Gerald Kean.

Rayan Restaurant is also suing barrister Francis McGagh of Barnhill Road, Dalkey over advice given during a legal row about a lease.

The owners of Rayan set up a restaurant called Di Bella at a leased premises in Athlone in 2003 and became embroiled in a legal row over rent with the now deceased landlord Barra Flynn.

The company directors believed they were unlawfully locked out of the premises and engaged Gerald Kean solicitors ahead of circuit court proceedings in 2004, which they lost.

In the current action, they are suing their solicitor and barrister for lost profits, damages and costs claiming the lawyers were negligent in terms of the legal advice given to the company.

However today, Gerald Kean's side claimed Rayan was already insolvent when they were hired and they want the case struck out as vexatious and frivolous.