Shareholder claims being locked out of Pygmalion club

A businessman and shareholder of a Dublin city centre nightclub and restaurant has brought High Court proceedings against his partners alleging he was excluded from the premises.

Paul McGlade, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin, claims he last year acquired an interest in Pygmalion Public House, a bar-restaurant and nightclub on South William Street, and, under an agreement, took over the running of the business.

In recent weeks, he claims he has been effectively excluded from Pygmalion by his fellow shareholders, brothers Jay and Tim Bourke.

Mr McGlade and two companies involved in the operation of the bar-restaurant – Fellerim Ltd and Lintrath Holdings Ltd – have brought the proceedings against Jonathan Jay Bourke, Leinster Road, Rathmines; Tim Bourke, Stable Lane, Dún Laoghaire; and Pygmalion Public House Ltd. Mr McGlade is seeking various injunctions, to apply pending the full hearing of the action, directing that he be returned to the management of the business and restraining the Bourkes from preventing him entering the premises or changing the locks.

Locks changed

When the matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Brian McGovern yesterday, Patricia Dillon SC, for Mr McGlade, said it was urgent because Mr McGlade had been “put out of the premises” and the locks had been changed.

Patrick McCann SC accepted the matter was urgent from Mr McGlade’s perspective but said his clients needed time to respond to proceedings which involved “a dispute between shareholders”.

Mr Justice McGovern adjourned to allow the sides to exchange documents and listed the case for hearing in July.