Long-running dispute over Bartragh Island returns to High Court

A long-running dispute over Bartragh Island in Killala Bay, County Mayo, returned before the High Court on Tuesday. The case concerns a 1996 agreement between former island owner Mary Molloy and Sean Simon regarding a purchase option. Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan dismissed Mr Simon's preliminary application to strike out proceedings on grounds of inordinate and inexcusable delay. The judge acknowledged a delay of over ten years had occurred but determined it was in the interests of justice to proceed with assessing damages. The case will now advance to a damages assessment hearing. In 2003, the High Court previously ruled that Ms Molloy's attempts to exercise her option to repurchase the island had been frustrated when a mortgagee lender agreed to sell the property to an international golf company.