Security men with their faces covered entered Hynes Jewellers on the Main Street. Pic: Jim Campbell
THERE WAS commotion on Wexford’s main street on Tuesday week last as a dispute over the payment of rent was brought from the private into the public as bailiffs seized the premises Hynes Jewellers on the back of a Circuit Court order.
Up to five men, dressed in dark clothes and with masked faces, took up position on the street outside of the premises, a sight which shocked many passers-by. Goods in the shop were seized and the locks were changed.
The masked bailiffs remained on the street until later in the day and were largely referred to by those passing on the street as “intimidating”. They drove a Northern Ireland registered van and did not brandish any identification.
County Registrar Marie Garahy, when asked by this newspaper, confirmed that bailiffs had carried out a seizure of the premises on foot of a court order. However, she refused to comment when asked about the procedure for hiring security for such an operation.
It is understood that in counties outside of Dublin and Cork, who have their own Sheriff and staff, such jobs are contracted out from the court office.
As the news broke on Tuesday the jewellers, which is owned and run by Frank Hynes, issued a statement on its Facebook page saying: “We are closed today due to an event that took place this morning at our premises at 19, North Main Street, Wexford instigated by Val Stone Solicitors. […] This is not legal for any solicitor and we have sought to have the dispute sent for mediation.
“The guards have been informed and we shall continue to watch as matters unfold over the next 48 hours. Our legal team are working hard at resolving this dispute that should never have come this far.”
The dispute is understood to be in relation to the payment of rent by Mr. Hynes to Mr. Stone and Ms. Catherine Stack, who have owned the building at 19 North Main Street since around 2000. Shortly after that, the previous tenants in the building sold their lease to Hynes Jewellers and they have been operating from the building since then.
The matter has come before the court on a number of occasions over the past two years.
[Full story in this week’s Echo Newspaper]