After a long-running legal dispute, Larry Goodman is to take majority control of Blackrock Clinic, the south Co Dublin private hospital which made profits of €12.4m in 2018.

Up to now, Goodman owned 37% of Blackrock Clinic, with the remaining shareholdings in the hospital controlled by Dr Joseph Sheehan (28%), Dr James Sheehan (16%) and Dr George Duffy (20%).

However, a Supreme Court ruling in January opened the door for Goodman to take majority control of Blackrock Clinic by acquiring the 28% stake of his rival shareholder, Dr Joseph Sheehan.

This would give Goodman a majority 65% stake in Blackrock Clinic, making him the largest shareholder by a distance.

On top of Blackrock Clinic, Goodman also holds a 31% stake in the Hermitage Clinic in Lucan and has recently taken 100% control of Galway Clinic private hospital after paying €32m last year to acquire the remaining 25% stake in the hospital.

On Tuesday this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that the state would take control of all private hospitals in Ireland, including Goodman’s investments, for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.