Latest news with #CoWexford
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Wexford man must pay €480,000 for ‘dodgy box' copyright infringement
A Co Wexford man must pay €480,000 in damages to Sky after conceding a High Court action taken by the broadcaster and telecommunications giant over his operation of a 'dodgy box' streaming service. David Dunbar consented to judgment against him after opting not to defend the civil case brought by Sky UK Limited over his infringement of the broadcaster's copyright. Advertisement Mr Dunbar faces further sanction for being in contempt of court, having breached orders aimed at preserving evidence of his copyright infringement and orders freezing his assets, among other directions. A suite of sanctions are open to the court, including imprisonment. Mr Dunbar, with an address at Manor Crescent, Roxborough Manor, Co Wexford, was previously described by Sky as a 'top-level' copyright infringer who may have earned up to €450,000 a year from operating an illegal streaming service. The broadcaster alleged that Mr Dunbar provided thousands with access to its copyrighted broadcast material since 2018. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was informed that Mr Dunbar was consenting to various reliefs sought by Sky arising from his copyright infringement. Advertisement The judge said there was no doubt of Mr Dunbar's copyright infringement, and ordered that he pay €480,000 in damages to Sky. Mr Dunbar must also pay the broadcaster's legal costs, the judge ruled, about €100,000. The judge also granted various permanent injunctions against Mr Dunbar, including an order restraining him from ever operating an Internet Protocol television service (IPTV). IPTV is the technology behind 'dodgy box' services. Mr Justice Sanfey reserved his judgment on an attachment and committal motion moved by Sky over Mr Dunbar's breach of several court orders. The court heard that Mr Dunbar did not comply with various orders granted to Sky aimed at gathering evidence of his wrongdoing. This included a refusal to comply with an Anton Piller order, which allows for entry to private premises for the purposes of seizing evidence. Advertisement Theo Donnelly BL, appearing for Sky and instructed by Philip Lee LLP, submitted that Mr Dunbar engaged in clear breaches of court orders. He submitted that the court orders were explained to Mr Dunbar in layman's terms by an independent solicitor who called to his house on foot of the Anton Piller order. Despite this, he did not allow the solicitor to enter his premises, and proceeded to destroy evidence of his copyright infringement, among other breaches, Mr Donnelly submitted. Counsel said it was hard to see how Mr Dunbar could have engaged in a more 'clear and knowing' contempt of the court orders. Advertisement It is Mr Dunbar's case that when the orders were explained to him by his legal representatives, he realised the seriousness of the matter. Following this, he said he sought to comply with the court's orders, the court heard. Darren Lehane SC, for Mr Dunbar and instructed by Dodd Solicitors, said his client was acknowledging his contempt of court. In considering sanction for his contempt, Mr Lehane asked the court to take into account Mr Dunbar's speedy consent to a judgment against him in default of defence. Mr Donnelly said he believed Mr Dunbar's case has not been referred to An Garda Síochána, but said he had not taken specific instruction on the matter. The case returns next month.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Quinbrook Makes First Irish Investment with Wexford Synchronous Condenser Project
Quinbrook Cements Leadership in Grid Stability with Irish Expansion LONDON, July 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners ("Quinbrook"), a specialist global investment manager focused exclusively on the infrastructure needed for the energy transition, today announced that it has closed its first investment in the Republic of Ireland with the acquisition of the Wexford Synchronous Condenser Project ("Wexford"), a proposed 963 MVA.s. facility to be located in Co. Wexford, Ireland. Wexford, originally developed by Green Frog Power, was awarded a long-term revenue contract under the Low Carbon Inertia Services (LCIS) tender in June 2024. The project is configured to provide critical grid services including inertia, short-circuit level, and reactive power that are essential to maintain stability in the Irish electricity grid. "Wexford marks a significant milestone for Quinbrook as we continue to grow our grid stability portfolio and mark our first investment in Ireland," said Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Leader for Quinbrook. "The Wexford project underscores our commitment to building critical infrastructure that supports Ireland's energy transition and strengthens grid resilience. As Ireland moves toward its goal of sourcing 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030, investments in grid stability are essential. We are excited to bring our team's expertise to Ireland to help accelerate the shift to a more sustainable power system." This latest investment builds on Quinbrook's grid stability leadership in the UK where it is the largest private owner of synchronous condensers, with over £430 million now committed for investment across its portfolio. With three projects already operational and four more under construction, Quinbrook is applying its proven model to support Ireland's transition to a more resilient and decarbonised power system. Synchronous condensers provide grid stability by providing system inertia, reducing the risk of blackouts. While thermal generation plants create inertia through large rotating turbines, renewables such as wind and solar do not, constraining the deployment of renewable energy. Synchronous condensers offer a cost-effective, zero-emissions solution to this challenge by replicating the stabilising effect of traditional generators, allowing more renewable energy to be used without compromising grid reliability. Procurement and construction for Wexford will be overseen by Quinbrook's long-standing delivery partner, Welsh Power. Having successfully developed and managed construction for Quinbrook's existing synchronous condenser projects in the UK, Welsh Power brings deep technical expertise and a proven track record in delivering complex grid infrastructure. Quinbrook will fully fund the construction phase, with Wexford expected to commence operations in 2027. About Quinbrook Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners ( is a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on the infrastructure needed to drive the energy transition in the UK, US, and Australia. Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested c. USD 6.9 billion of equity capital in 40 GW of energy infrastructure assets representing a total transaction value of USD 29.8 billion. Quinbrook has completed a diverse range of direct investments in both utility and distributed scale onshore wind and solar power, battery storage, reserve peaking capacity, biomass, fugitive methane recovery, hydro and flexible energy management solutions in the UK, US, and Australia. Quinbrook is currently developing and constructing some of the largest renewables and storage infrastructure projects in the UK, US, and Australia. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Jennifer Pflieger+1 (212) 446-1866jpflieger@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Times
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Dispute over elderly Wexford man's will leaving estate to 38 nieces and nephews should be decided in Circuit Court, judge rules
A dispute over the estate of a deceased Co Wexford man whose will left it to his 38 nieces and nephews is not appropriate for hearing in the High Court and should be heard in the Circuit Court, a judge has ruled. The dispute concerns the estate, including his home at Iskabeg, the Ballagh, Enniscorthy, of Michael Redmond (98), a widower with no children who died in a nursing home in December 2021. In a will dated June 22nd, 2015, Mr Redmond left his estate to his nieces and nephews and there are 38 beneficiaries, aged between 50 and 79, the judge said. In late 2022, the estate executors issued proceedings against the deceased's nephew, Michael Corrigan (76), and Mr Corrigan's daughter, Shinéad , seeking possession of the farmhouse property. The executors say the house was previously valued at €230,000, but this may have increased. READ MORE The defendants issued a defence and also counterclaimed for orders, including for specific performance of an alleged agreement by Mr Redmond the property would be left to Mr Corrigan, and damages of €60,000. In late 2023, Mr Corrigan issued separate High Court proceedings against the executors, seeking orders including payment of €286,000 quantum merit damages, which are damages for provision of goods or services without a formal contract. Mr Corrigan, who is among the beneficiaries of his uncle's will, claims Mr Redmond, his godfather, promised him the farmhouse property and, on foot of that, he had left Achill Island and has lived in it since 2017. He claims he has carried out extensive renovation and upkeep works to the house and curtilage and is the rightful owner. In her recently published High Court judgment, granting an application by the executors to have the dispute decided in the Circuit Court rather than the High Court, Ms Justice Cahill said the orders sought in the High Court claim are almost identical to those sought in the counterclaim to the Circuit Court case. The 'only noticeable' difference is between the sums of damages claimed, she said. There was 'no justification' stated in the court papers for this 'significant' jump on the amount of damages, she said. However, because the executors had consented to the Circuit Court having 'unlimited monetary jurisdiction' in a claim of the type advanced in the existing proceedings in that court, the monetary difference in both claims was not a material matter. For those reasons, and to avoid unnecessary and undesirable multiplicity of proceedings seeing substantially the same orders, and dealing with the same claims and the same property, she was satisfied it was appropriate to remit the High Court proceedings to Wexford Circuit Court. The imperative must be to have all disputes related to the estate resolved so it can be administered without further undue delay or unnecessary costs incurred, she said. Earlier in her decision, the judge noted Mr Corrigan had not attended the hearing of the executors' application. Ms Corrigan did attend but did not identify any 'exceptional circumstances' to justify her attempts to advocate for her father. The judge had ruled there was no basis established for adjourning the hearing of the application and Ms Corrigan had no right to make submissions to the court on the matter. The executors, the judge noted, refuted allegations, including of wrongdoing, made against them by Ms Corrigan in an affidavit which related mainly to the merits of the underlying dispute.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Social housing scheme for Wexford remains at standstill 18 months on – ‘It's not being built, there aren't even plans available'
In November 2023 then Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien revealed that the Bunclody development was to be 'bundled' with five other schemes in Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. Due to deliver 642 houses across six sites, the project remains in the pre-procurement phase as of July 2025 and, at the monthly meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), Councillor Barbara Anne Murphy asked why it had not proceeded any further. 'That residential zoned land isn't being developed despite there being a huge need for houses in Bunclody and a huge need for people to buy their own homes,' she said following a presentation on Wexford's County Development Plan. Critical of that plan and the suggestion Wexford was meeting its housing targets across the county, Cllr Murphy said the situation in Bunclody was not unique. 'There are plans to build 65 houses on Hospital Hill, but we have had those plans for I don't know how long. If this is happening in other places too, then our County Development Plan (CDP) isn't working. If you live in Bunclody you can't just buy a site and build on it, you won't get planning permission to build in a rural area (under the CDP),. "You can't build in rural areas and you can't buy or rent a house in Bunclody itself, so it's clear to me the CDP isn't working, it's certainly not working for Bunclody.' In response, senior planner Diarmuid Heuston said there were 'obstacles' to overcome when it came to delivering new builds in the county's villages. 'There are proposals in place (for new developments), we have to work our way through them, but there are a lot of obstacles we have to overcome,' he said. 'We do have wastewater capacity in the villages, and they are very important in terms of delivering housing, but there are delays in some of those villages. We need the developers to come forward. "But we will keep an eye on how things are going there and continue to have discussions with you on it.' He was supported by chief executive Eddie Taaffe who said the council was focusing on finding developers to build on the sites which had already been earmarked for housing. 'The issue in Bunclody is the sites which have been zoned have not been developed yet,' he said. 'The solution isn't to zone more land, it's to gain an understanding as to why those sites aren't being brought forward by the people who own them or not being sold to developers.' Accepting that, in terms of its overall figures, Co Wexford was meeting the targets set out under the government's Housing For All plan, Cllr Murphy said those targets were primarily being met in the county's urban areas. 'We're not meeting the need throughout the county, and Bunclody is an example of that. We can talk about how we're going to work with developers, land owners and so on, but how long is that going to take? We have a housing crisis right now. We have land in the ownership of the state which is not being built on, there's not even plans available. "Imagine how frustrated people who have earned enough to get a mortgage but can't buy or build in their own area are.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
BreakingNews.ie
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Acclaimed US journalist Jim Acosta announced for Kennedy Summer School
The Kennedy Summer School has announced that acclaimed American journalist and author Jim Acosta will be a featured guest speaker at this year's event, taking place in New Ross, Co Wexford, from August 28th to 30th. On Saturday afternoon, August 30th, former CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta will take part in a conversation with Dr Stacey Connaughton of Purdue University. Advertisement Renowned for his distinguished career in journalism, Mr Acosta gained national recognition as CNN's chief White House correspondent, where his rigorous questioning and high-profile exchanges with president Donald Trump made headlines worldwide. Mr Acosta joined CNN in 2007 after beginning his career in local radio and television and with CBS News, where he covered issues including the 2004 presidential election, the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina. He covered Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's campaigns for the 2008 presidential election at the beginning of his time at CNN before becoming a national political correspondent and covering Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. He was promoted to senior White House correspondent during Mr Obama's second term as president, then became chief White House correspondent in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term as president. Mr Acosta now hosts The Jim Acosta Show on Substack and YouTube. Advertisement His participation in the Kennedy Summer School will offer attendees a unique opportunity to hear his reflections on journalism, American politics, and the challenges facing democracy today. The 2025 Kennedy Summer School opens on Thursday, August 28th, with a Schools STEM Event at the JFK Arboretum featuring Veronica Campbell, and Ciarán Seoighe, and Dr Charles Larkin moderated by Prof Patrick Prendergast. That afternoon, Seán O'Rourke will host a Tea Party with music by Sharon Clancy, compered by Seán Connick. The official opening that evening at St Michael's Theatre will be led by Eileen Dunne, followed by a screening and discussion of From That Small Island with Prof Bríona Nic Dhiarmada, Prof Jane Ohlmeyer, Brian Murphy, and Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Friday includes a Great Gatsby centenary session with Prof Kirk Curnutt. A "senior government figure will speak at the Speakers' Lunch". Panels follow on local journalism (Alan Corcoran, Brenda Power, Jessica O'Connor, Dave O'Connell, Bill Forry) and the Noel Whelan Interview with Colm Tóibín and Sinéad McSweeney. The day ends with 'President Trump & Us' moderated by Tony Connelly.
