Court told of ‘significant progress’ in mediation children’s hospital dispute
Residents claim significant damage has been caused to their homes by the building works
Aodhan O'Faolain
National Children’s Hospital under construction on the campus of St James’s Hospital, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
National Children’s Hospital under construction on the campus of St James’s Hospital, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Significant progress is being made in efforts to resolve a row over building works between the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin and local residents, the High Court has heard.
In proceedings initiated in 2017, residents from the O’Reilly Avenue, Ceannt Fort, and Mount Brown areas of Dublin 8, have brought an action against the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the builders, BAM Civil Ltd and BAM Civil Engineering Ltd.
The residents claim significant damage has been caused to their homes by the building works.
The claims are opposed by the defendants.
The dispute regarding the €1bn hospital on the grounds of St James’s Hospital, has been before the courts on several occasions.
At one point, the court heard that the action was resolved but it was re-entered by the plaintiffs.
The main action currently stands adjourned to allow a mediation, conducted by retired judge Paul Gilligan, aimed at resolving the dispute.
When the case was briefly mentioned before the court on Thursday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was told by John Rogers SC, for the plaintiffs, and Jarlath Fitzsimons SC, for the board, said very significant progress was being made in the mediation.
No details of those discussions were outlined.
News of the progress was outlined when the court was due to heard several pretrial motions in the action, including an application to join additional eight plaintiffs, who are residents living near the new hospital, to the proceedings.
The court heard the additional plaintiffs were being joined, on consent of all sides, as they would be affected by any potential outcome agreed between the parties.
The matter was adjourned to a date next month.