In a judgement issued in Dublin this Monday, High Court judge Michael White found that James Cooney, with an address at Baratoor, Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co Galway, owed Portumna Co-operative Mart Society €333,713.93 for cattle he bought but did not pay for.

Justice White issued a summary judgement in the absence of a bona fide defence by Mr Cooney, ruling that there was no need for a plenary trial. The judge referred to earlier proceedings last November, when Mr Cooney produced evidence of payments to the mart. According to the judgement, those payments were correctly credited, but they were in respect of third parties rather than Mr Cooney’s own debt.

As a result, Justice White said the court was satisfied that all amounts outstanding in accounts in the name of Mr Cooney at Portumna mart were owed.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Mr Cooney purchased the animals in 2013 and 2014, before the mart started legal proceedings to obtain payment two years ago and took the matter to the courts in May 2015.

Justice White also allowed the mart to claim legal costs from Mr Cooney.

Portumna mart chairman Pat Roche attended Monday’s hearing and said he was satisfied with the outcome.

Mr Cooney did not attend, but his solicitor Maurice Galvin told the Irish Farmers Journal shortly afterwards that his client had instructed him to lodge an appeal immediately.

Justice White placed a stay on the judgement pending the appeal before the Court of Appeal.

Settlement

Loughrea Co-operative Mart took a separate legal action in the High Court against Mr Cooney, also in 2015. The case was taken out of court at the end of last year and the Irish Farmers Journal understands that the parties are working to finalise a settlement.