A Judge has ordered an inspection of Cassidy’s Quarry.
The order was given by Mr Justice Denis McDonald at a hearing of the Commercial Court of the High Court today.
The direction was part of legal action over the defective concrete blocks scandal.
Judge McDonald directed that the preliminary inspection at Cassidy’s quarry is now directed to take place in the week commencing 16 October.
A full coring inspection is likely to take place in the week commencing 30 October.
The judge also made an order for costs against Cassidy Brothers Concrete Products Limited and Cassidy Brothers Topmix Limited in respect of their “significant failure” to comply with directions and delays in court time, especially given their previous history.
Experts previously gained permission to take and test samples from the quarry at the heart of the crisis.
The inspection forms part of several lead cases in the High Court seeking compensation outside of the defective concrete blocks redress scheme.
The action is spearheaded by Coleman Legal, who have thousands of additional cases included in a multi-party action, which will be determined by the ongoing lead cases.
Coleman Legal say there have been negotiations for many months in relation to access and the method that will be used to sample and test the rock in Cassidy’s quarry itself.
The sampling of the stone in a comprehensive way is a complex process and requires a lot of geological, technical and logistical input.
Coleman Legal are also in the process of agreeing on tests to be carried out on each of the lead Plaintiffs’ homes, also due to begin in the next few weeks, starting with one of the lead cases.
“We have reached a point where Defences have been received by the defendants in the two “pathfinder” cases which are listed in the Commercial Court and the other four lead cases are following close behind,” the firm said in an update to homeowners. All of the other cases in the group are on hold pending the outcome of the lead cases.
