Cork GAA secures documents order in €96m Páirc Uí Chaoimh redevelopment case

Engineering firm must provide Cork GAA with key documents by September after agreement in High Court over €96m stadium project

An order of the High Court was made this week relating to the key documents connected to the work carried out on the stadium project, which is believed to have cost in the region of €96m. Picture: Inpho/James Crombie

A leading engineering consulting firm linked to the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh has until mid-September to hand over certain documents to Cork GAA.

An order of the High Court was made this week relating to the key documents connected to the work carried out on the stadium project, which is believed to have cost in the region of €96m.

Cork company Malachy Walsh and Partners was appointed as design project manager for the project, from inception to completion eight years ago.

In court documents, Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O’Donovan claimed €6.6m had been paid to the consultancy engineering firm by Cork County GAA Board for professional services provided in relation to the Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium redevelopment.

The order was made after the High Court heard the Cork County Committee of the GAA and Malachy Walsh and Co Ltd had reached agreement on the order to be made, which was by consent of both parties involved.

James Burke BL, for Cork County Committee of the GAA, told the court the case seeking the documents, which had been expected to last over two days, had been settled and on consent of the defendant Malachy Walsh and Co Ltd, an order could be made by the court for the handover of certain documents requested by Cork GAA.

Mr Justice Conleth Bradley made the order that the documents be provided by September 19 next.

In an affidavit to the court, Mr O’Donovan said the Cork County GAA Board entered into a number of agreements, including an agreement with Malachy Walsh and Company, which trades as Malachy Walsh and Partners with a registered address at Park House, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork, in respect of the redevelopment of the Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium.

Malachy Walsh and Partners, he said, was a multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental and consulting firm which was appointed to design and manage the stadium redevelopment by a letter of engagement in February 2012.

He said the project was the redevelopment of the stadium and adjoining areas at Ballintemple, Cork.

Malachy Walsh and Partners, he said, was appointed the lead design consultant, project manager, civil and structural engineer, quantity surveyor, mechanical and electrical engineer and architect for the works.

The project was handed over to the Cork GAA in 2017, with further additional works carried out in November 2017.

In the 2023 affidavit, Mr O’Donovan contended the brief which formed part of the letter of engagement further specified Malachy Walsh and Partners was “responsible for monitoring of cost and for the provision of all financial information to Cork County GAA Board".

Cork GAA requested certain documents and contended it was entitled to receive the documents or copies.

In another replying affidavit from last year, Mr O’Donovan said Cork GAA contended it had a contractual right to the documentation sought.

Malachy Walsh and Partners contended in an affidavit referred to in court documents that certain documents had already been provided.