Caterer gets 'Christmas Eve' reprieve over Brennan's bakery contract

A High Court dispute concerning a catering contract at Brennan's bakery in Dublin has been adjourned to late March following agreement between the parties. Ciaran Monaghan, who has provided catering services at the bakery's canteen for 28 years, sought an injunction to prevent termination of his contract after Brennan's initiated a tendering process in June. Mr Monaghan contended that without intervention, his business and nine employees' livelihoods faced cessation on Christmas Eve. Before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore on Tuesday, counsel for both parties confirmed they had reached accord. Brennan's undertook that Mr Monaghan's company would continue operating the canteen while a competitive tendering process for the service provision is completed by mid-March 2023. Defence counsel stressed that termination on Christmas Eve had never been the company's intention. Should Mr Monaghan's firm succeed in the tender, the proceedings may become moot. The adjournment was granted on the basis of these undertakings.