Interim injunctions granted against former Ireland rugby player Shane Byrne and brother

A High Court judge has granted interim injunctions against former Irish rugby international Shane Byrne, and his brother William arising from serious concerns about their conduct of the affairs of a waste disposal company of which they are directors.

Interim injunctions granted against former Ireland rugby player Shane Byrne and brother

A High Court judge has granted interim injunctions against former Irish rugby international Shane Byrne, and his brother William arising from serious concerns about their conduct of the affairs of a waste disposal company of which they are directors and shareholders.

Among the concerns about the conduct of the affairs of AWD Waste Solutions Ltd is that cash jobs invoiced for emptying septic tanks which should have been charged at €250 were allegedly only charged at one cent on the company invoices, leaving cash unaccounted for to the company.

It is also alleged Shane Byrne wrongfully claimed some €1,006 in expenses from AWD when he was on a trip to climb Kiliminjaro in Africa and allegedly used the company debit card for "lavish" personal expenses, including €1,060 to a restaurant in Kilkenny on September 21 last and €117.60 to a pub next door to that restaurant.

It is also claimed both brothers are allegedly using AWD fuel cards for private driving by themselves and their wives and that both brothers unlawfully credited their golf club membership to the company.

The claims were made by Oxigen Environmental Unlimited Company, a 51% shareholder in AWD, in its application for injunctions against the brothers.

Shane Byrne is a joint managing director of AWD, which employs 24 people and has registered offices at Harmony Row, Dublin 2, while William Byrne is a director.

AWD is involved in the waste disposal, septic tank, drain cleaning and skip business.

The orders, made ex parte (one side only represented), restrain the respondents removing AWD company files or papers from its operations office at Glanbia House, Inch, Co Wexford, and from disposing of, or attempting to dispose of any records of any work done by it for any party within the last four years, and requiring them to preserve such records.

Oxigen's concerns about the conduct of the affairs of AWD include that books and records of the company have been allegedly removed and destroyed, that monies allegedly may be missing, and about payments being allegedly made in cash, including to mechanics Counsel for Oxigen, Ronnie Hudson BL told Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds today.

Mr Hudson said it was "impossible at this stage" to even put an estimate on the amount of missing monies but there could be some €150,000 unaccounted for in missing books of the company and perhaps a sum between €15,000 and €115,000 concerning missing bin tags.

This was all against the background of Shane Byrne climbing Kiliminjaro and holidaying to Bermuda, he said.

Mr Hudson said the orders were being sought because his side had sought but not secured undertakings from the respondents not to remove or destroy books and records.

Those undertakings had been sought in a letter of September 24 last, he said.

Counsel also said his solicitor has received an email on behalf of the respondents on Wednesday night.

The judge, who was provided with that email, asked was counsel aware a part-time staff member had been hired to assist investigations.

Mr Hudson said Oxigen's forensic accountants have not got access to the materials and its solicitor has alerted the Garda Fraud Squad about the matter.

His side's concerns include about the amount of missing monies and that there may be further steps to destroy and remove company records, he said.

Ms Justice Reynolds said, having regard to the "very serious" issues raised in the affidavits, it seemed appropriate in all the circumstances to grant the injunctions sought pending further order.

The case will come back before the court next Tuesday.

In court documents, Oxigen said the respondents had asked Oxigen around 2012 to get involved in their businesses, which were operated under the entities Arklow Waste Disposal Ltd, Arklow Pipe and Drain Ltd and Arklow Waste Management Ltd, because they were in financial difficulty.

Oxigen said it agreed to do so and AWD was later established in which Oxigen was a 51% shareholder and the respondents held 49%.

Oxigen claims Shane and William Byrne are the directors in day to day control of AWD's affairs and both are based at the company office at Inch, Co Wexford.

It says Oxigen provides various supports to AWD and AWD provides its own standalone accounting system and maintains all of its own books and records at the Inch office.

Oxigen said it became aware in recent months of matters within AWD which caused concern, including employee issues, and said the respondents directors had failed to alert Oxigen to those issues until a directors meeting of September 2 last.

It had also reviewed financial transactions of AWD, including expense claims by the respondents.

That review raised several concerns it is claimed.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

FILE PHOTO The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has cleared the purchase of Goodbody Stockbrokers by AIB END Goodbody Stockbrokers fined over €1.2m by Central Bank over rules breaches
Nottingham City Centre Stock Irish staff at the Body Shop wait for wages as retailer shuts stores in the Republic
Ryanair comments on Norwegian Ryanair boss O'Leary's spat with Transport Minister over Dublin Airport escalates
IE logo
Devices


UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IRISH EXAMINER FOR TEAMS AND ORGANISATIONS
FIND OUT MORE

The Business Hub
Newsletter

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Sign up
ie logo
Puzzles Logo

Play digital puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and a variety of word games including the popular Word Wheel

Lunchtime News
Newsletter

Keep up with the stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited