The High Court yesterday told Bord na gCon and the Football
Association of Ireland to submit new bids for the former Cork City soccer grounds at Bishopstown, Cork. The sealed tenders will be opened by the court next week. Last week, the court was told that Mr
John Hyland, the liquidator of Decvale Ltd, the company which owned the grounds, had invited interested parties to a meeting on May 21st last when, he said, it was his intention "to complete the sale of the stadium subject to the approval of the High Court".
Bord na gCon representatives turned up at the meeting, offered
£235,000 and signed a contract. The FAI had offered £
220,000 on May 19th. It had informed the liquidator its officials would not attend the May 21st meeting as they were attending an international soccer match in Dublin.
When the FAI heard of the Bord na gCon offer, it made a counter offer of £250,000 on May 22nd.
Yesterday, Mr Michael McMahon SC, for Bord na gCon, said the liquidator in this case had accepted the only offer and had established a deadline when a contract had to be concluded. If the court permitted a situation where someone could come in after a deadline and top the price, then liquidators would find it difficult to get offers. Mr Denis Farren, counsel for the FAI, said the higher offer was the one the court should take into consideration. Mr
Justice Shanley said it was open to the liquidator to dispose of the property without recourse to the court. He refused to sanction the sale of the property to Bord na gCon. He gave liberty to both organisations to tender for the property within seven days.