Michael Flatley asks court to prevent insurer from cancelling coverage for Cork mansion

Entertainer claims one of the defendants, the Irish branch of Hiscox Société Anonyme, has said it will not insure the property from March 8 onwards

Michael Flatley has brought proceedings against several parties before the commercial division of the High Court over an alleged €30m worth of damage caused to Castlehyde Manor.

Michael Flatley has claimed before the High Court an insurance company plans to pull the cover it has been providing for his Co Cork period mansion.

The former Riverdance star has brought proceedings against several parties before the commercial division of the High Court over an alleged €30m worth of damage caused to Castlehyde Manor.

He claims one of the defendants, the Irish branch of Hiscox Société Anonyme, has said it will not insure the property from March 8 onwards.

As a result of the latest twist to the ongoing legal dispute, Mr Flatley, represented by Ronnie Hudson Bl instructed by solicitor Max Mooney, on Wednesday secured permission from the court to seek an order restraining Hiscox from cancelling the policy.

He also seeks an injunction preventing Hiscox from denying Mr Flatley insurance cover in respect of the Fermoy property from March 8 until the determination of the proceedings or for the duration of the policy.

Permission to seek those orders was granted on an ex-parte basis on Wednesday afternoon, and the matter will return before the court later this week.

In a sworn statement to the court in support of the application, the entertainer and producer said he had insured the property with Hiscox, via a brokerage, for the last few years.

He claims under the policy he pays the insurer a premium of more than €5,700 a month. 

He said the insurer had been aware he had to vacate the property late last year due to health concerns.

Mr Flatley said the policy was renewed last November for a further 12 months.

Michael Flatley seeks an injunction preventing Hiscox from denying Mr Flatley insurance cover in respect of the Fermoy property from March 8 until the determination of the proceedings or for the duration of the policy.

However, earlier this month he said his solicitor Mr Mooney was told the insurer wished to cancel the policy on the grounds the occupancy of the property was different to its understanding when the policy was agreed and renewed.

The policy, Hiscox added, would cease from March 8 next.

Mr Flatley disputed that assertion, and said the insurer knows it should be paying his monthly relocation expenses of up to €80,000 but hasd refused to do so.

He added Hiscox was attempting to mitigate its loss and allegedly prejudice his action against it.

The insurer, he claims, is seeking to cancel the policy in circumstances where it allegedly knew the risks before it renewed the policy last November.

He fears it would be very difficult to obtain an alternative insurer if Hiscox is allowed cancel the policy, leaving the protected property "in jeopardy".

Previously, the court heard that the Lord of the Dance star claims he has invested more than €29m since acquiring the property in 1999.

In his main action, Mr Flatley has sued over what he claims are alleged unsafe levels of toxic chemical residue at Castlehyde, including on the wall surfaces in the pool, spa and cinema areas.

He claims both his own and his family's health have suffered as result of the alleged contamination, and that last October they had to move out of the property.

Mr Flatley claims the alleged unsafe levels of chloride residue are due to PVC combustion in a 2016 fire at the estate and the alleged main renovation contractor, Austin Newport Group Ltd, was allegedly aware of a residue issue.

Mr Flatley is also suing three insurance underwriters: MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd, AXA XL Underwriting Agencies LTD and Hamilton Managing Agency Limited alleging negligence, endangerment, misrepresentation and breach of duty and contract.

Hiscox SA, which has an Irish address at Sir Rogerson’s Quay in Dublin 2, was subsequently added to the case over the alleged damage to the property.

It was added because, the plaintiff alleges, it has not paid him anything for having to vacate his home.

All of the allegations are denied.

The insurers are also seeking to have the case referred to out-of-court arbitration due to a clause in an alleged €3.9m settlement of a claim by Mr Flatley on his insurance policy over the fire.