The Wrights of Howth family’s dispute over a storage unit “could be resolved,” says High Court judge

A High Court judge said efforts should be made to try to resolve through mediation a dispute with members of the Wright family who own and operate the well-known food and hospitality businesses.

r Judge Brian O’Moore made the comments Wednesday as he issued instructions for the exchange of documents in the dispute.

Mediation, the judge said, is something he would encourage the parties to do.

Otherwise, the case would sit in the High Court for five days, he said.

Part of the dispute revolves around a claim by the Wrights of Howth group that they were wrongfully locked out of a storage unit by two members of the Wright family who are not part of the company.

Ownership of the store’s lease is one of the issues, along with the alleged embezzlement of three trawlers involved in the case.

Last December, the judge granted an injunction to several parties that are part of the group, preventing Mark Wright, a former shareholder and director of the group, and his daughter Shona Wright from allowing the plaintiffs access to a store known as E, Westpier , Howth.

The parties that have been awarded the contract are Simro Limited, Bernadette and her subsidiary Aishling Wright, Ireland’s Eye Seafoods Limited, Wrights of Howth Seafood Bars Ltd, A Taste of Ireland Airports Ltd, Wrights Airport Convenience Store Ltd and Kitestown Ltd.

The court heard the store, which was a former lifeboat station, has been used as a warehouse by the group for several years.

The defendants deny any wrongdoing. The court had previously heard that Mark Wright was a director and shareholder of the group before founding his own company.

It is alleged that neither side was satisfied with the other’s compliance with a settlement agreement and a court case was initiated.

The case will be brought back to court later this month.