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Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
School closed due to dispute over control of Islamic cultural centre in Dublin, court hears
A school at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin, has closed as part of a dispute over control of the centre's operations, the High Court heard. Mr Justice Brian Cregan was also told Clonskeagh is the primary place for holding a major annual Muslim festival, Eid al-Adha, which falls on Friday, but is now closed. The mosque at the centre had also closed, the court previously heard. The dispute arises out of the alleged unlawful appointment of new directors to the centre's operating company, the Al Maktoum Foundation CLG. Dr Abdel Basset Elsayed, a Co Meath-based medical consultant, says he has been a director of the foundation company since 2012. He claims the purported appointments of four new directors to the board are invalid and not in accordance with the company's constitution. READ MORE He sought orders from the court requiring the Companies Registration Office to rectify its register by removing the allegedly unlawfully appointed members and restraining the new directors from performing any duties or representing themselves as directors of the company. Barrister Niall Ó hUiginn, for the new directors, who are notice parties in the case, on Wednesday said his clients dispute the claims and contend Dr Elsayed has no legal standing to bring the case as he has been removed as a director. Counsel said Dr Elsayed was purporting to give directions on behalf of the Al Maktoum Foundation. His clients will say Dr Elsayed's removal from his directorship was in accordance with the company's constitution. [ Dublin Islamic cultural centre temporarily closed after gardaí called to altercation Opens in new window ] Counsel said he did not wish to get into the merits of the case at this stage as his side needed time to put in a replying affidavit to Dr Elsayed's claims. Barrister Joseph Sallabi, who told the court he has a contract as in-house counsel with the Al Maktoum Foundation, objected to a three-week adjournment. His side argue a corporate body in Dubai is appointing the directors and they are acting for the company, counsel said. There were 27 teachers in the Clonskeagh school who had collectively resigned and the school has closed. Mr Ó hUiginn objected to Mr Sallabi making claims that had not been put on affidavit and were not part of any orders sought. Mr Justice Cregan told Mr Sallabi he would have to put his new claims on affidavit, and that he would also give the notice parties time to put their position on affidavit. It was an 'unfortunate situation', he said, and Mr Sallabi, if he wanted the school and mosque to be reopened, would have to bring a separate application in that respect. He adjourned the matter to later this month.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Dispute over control of Clonskeagh Islamic centre reaches High Court
A dispute over the alleged unlawful appointment of new directors to a company behind the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland has led to the month-long closure of the mosque in Clonskeagh, Dublin, the High Court heard. Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Wednesday said he will likely make orders under company law regarding the appointments if five named new directors of the Al Maktoum Foundation CLG, which owns the cultural centre, do not respond to the lawsuit. The case has been brought by Dr Abdel Basset Elsayed, a Meath-based medical consultant and director of the company since 2012, and secretary since 2022. The Al Maktoum in-house counsel, Joseph Sallabi, told the judge that in August 2023, there were only three directors, one of whom was Dr Elsayed. READ MORE One of the three resigned, and Mirza El Sayegh, the third director, appointed five new directors and took control of the company, he said, adding that this was without Dr Elsayed's knowledge and without board approval. 'The situation is really grave as they have now filed submissions with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) changing the constitution and tampering with the records of the company,' he said. Mr Sallabi said the five directors, who are listed as notice parties in the case against the CRO, are all resident in Dubai but have their places of business in Ireland. He said notice of the proceedings has been served by post on the five: Ahmad Tahlak, Hesham Abdulla Al Quassim, Khalifa Aldaboos, Mohamed Musabeh Dhahi and Zahid Jami, all of Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh. None appeared or had representatives in court. Mr Justice Cregan said notice should also be served to them by email. When the judge pointed out that the issues all appear to have taken place a year ago, Mr Sallabi said they only became aware of them in October. In a sworn statement, Dr Elsayed, who is an applicant in the case alongside the company, said the company received a letter from its auditor confirming only he and Mr El Sayegh were directors after the other resigned last August. The auditor recommended that the board includes at least two directors who are based in Ireland to ensure an adequate governance structure. Last January, Dr Elsayed said, Mr El Sayegh received a directive from the Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment to add four directors to the company. On January 20th, Mr El Sayegh allegedly passed a purported board resolution authorising the appointments of four individuals. [ Inside Dublin Islamic centre: pressure on 'senior official' to step down amid claims over staff links to banned group Opens in new window ] 'The purported resolution was issued without my knowledge, attendance or contribution,' said Dr Elsayed. Between April 19th and June 7th last, he said, Mr El Sayegh submitted forms to the CRO appointing the five new directors. Dr Elsayed claims those appointments are invalid, and did not follow the requirements of the company's constitution. The case alleges the appointments were made 'under instructions from an unrelated Dubai-registered organisation with no corporate ties to the company, except Mr El Sayegh's directorship in both entities'. The applicants seek an order, under section 173 of the Companies Act 2014 and under the court's general jurisdiction, directing the rectification of the CRO register by removing the allegedly unlawfully appointed members. They also seek an order restraining the new directors from performing any duties or representing themselves as directors of the company. The Al Maktoum Foundation was incorporated in 1997 to 'establish a position for the Muslim community within the Irish society that is fair and based on due rights and to work for a more enlightened appreciation for Islam and Muslims in wider society, as well as fostering better community relations and working for the good of society as a whole'.
BreakingNews.ie
28-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Islamic Cultural Centre closed amid dispute over appointment of directors, court told
A dispute over the alleged unlawful appointment of new directors to a company behind the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland has meant the mosque in Clonskeagh, Dublin, has been closed for a month, the High Court heard. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan said he would make orders under company law in relation to the appointments if there was no response to proceedings over the dispute from five named new directors of the Al Maktoum Foundation CLG, which owns the centre. Advertisement The case has been brought by Dr Abdel Basset Elsayed, a Meath-based medical consultant and director of the foundation company since 2012 and secretary since 2022. The Al Maktoum in-house counsel, Joseph Sallabi, told the judge that in August 2023, there were only three directors, one of whom was Dr Elsayed. One of the three resigned and without Dr Elsayed's knowledge, or without board approval, the third director, Mirza El Sayegh, appointed five new directors and took control of the company, he said. "The situation is really grave as they have now filed submissions with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) changing the constitution and tampering with the records of the company," he said. The dispute has meant the mosque in the Clonskeagh centre has been closed for a month now, he said. Advertisement Mr Sallabi said the five directors, who are notice parties in the case which is against the CRO, are all resident in Dubai but have their place of business here. He said notice of the proceedings had been served by post on the five: Ahmad Tahlak, Hesham Abdulla Al Quassim, Khalifa Aldaboos, Mohamed Musabeh Dhahi and Zahid Jami, all of Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh. There was no appearance by them or on their behalf and Mr Justice Cregan said there should also be service on them by email so that they can contest the matter if they choose. When the judge pointed out this all appeared to have taken place a year ago, Mr Sallabi said they only became aware of it in October. The judge noted the urgency of the matter and said service of the papers should take place within two days and the case could come back early next week. Advertisement "You can indicate to them that if they don't appear or are not represented, I will make the orders being sought unless I hear a reason that I should not". In an affidavit, Dr Elsayed, who is an applicant in the case along with the company itself, said following the resignation of one of the three directors last August, the company received a letter from its auditor confirming there were only two directors (Dr Elsayed and Mr El Sayegh). The auditor recommended that the board include at least two directors who are based in Ireland to ensure an adequate governance structure. Last January, he said Mr El Sayegh received a directive from the Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment to add four directors to the company. Advertisement On January 20th, Mr El Sayegh passed a purported board resolution authorising the appointments of four individuals. "The purported resolution was issued without my knowledge, attendance or contribution", Dr Elsayed said. Ireland Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin temporarily clos... Read More He said between April 19th and June 7th last year, Mr El Sayegh submitted forms to the CRO appointing the five new directors who are notice parties. He said those appointments are invalid and without effect and did not follow the requirements of the company's constitution. It is claimed, in legal submissions, that the appointments were made "under instructions from an unrelated Dubai-registered organisation with no corporate ties to the company, except Mr El Sayegh's directorship in both entities". Advertisement The applicants seek an order, under Section 173 of the Companies Act 2014 and under the court's general jurisdiction, directing the rectification of the CRO register by removing the allegedly unlawfully appointed members. They also seek an order restraining the new directors from performing any duties or representing themselves as directors of the company. The Al Maktoum Foundation was incorporated in 1997 to 'establish a position for the Muslim community within the Irish society that is fair and based on due rights and to work for a more enlightened appreciation for Islam and Muslims in the wider society, as well as fostering better community relations and working for the good of society as a whole'.
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Irish Times
Gardaí investigate claim of attempted child abduction in south Dublin
A Garda investigation has been launched after a mother in south Dublin reported an alleged attempted abduction of her child on Thursday evening. The mother of the three-year-old girl said on Friday she remained 'shaken' by the incident. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed a man and a woman, who she believed to be a couple, sat on a bench near the playground in a residential area of Clonskeagh while her daughter was playing with other children. She claimed the man interacted with her daughter before the mother called for her to come back. READ MORE On leaving the playground later, at about 6pm, she told her daughter to retrieve her bicycle, she said, adding that she took her eyes off her for 'just a second,' while speaking to other parents. 'I didn't see the moment that he took her hand, but I saw that they were walking together,' she claimed. 'He turned around and saw that I was running and screaming, and he started to run with her while holding her hand.' The mother claimed the man was running towards one of the park's exits, and when she caught up to them, she believed 'he pretended that he was taking her to the playground'. She said the man subsequently placed her daughter on a carousel, which he began to spin. 'There was no excuse or apology, he didn't say a word,' she said. 'I was too shocked to even talk to him, to make eye contact, I just got my daughter and got into the car immediately,' she said. 'I was so shaken.' The mother returned a few minutes later with her husband but saw the couple had left. They subsequently reported the incident to gardaí. A Garda spokesman said gardaí were investigating 'an alleged incident in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14 , yesterday evening.' 'Inquiries are ongoing,' he said.
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Planning permission sought for Clonskeagh student homes
A Bain Capital backed firm is to lodge plans for 439 purpose built student bed spaces for the former Smurfit Paper Mills site at Clonskeagh in Dublin 6. In the planning application, Bain Capital vehicle, Harley Issuer DAC is seeking planning permission for the beds across five blocks from one storey to part seven storeys along with 16 apartments. The Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) also includes the extension and renovation of 14 existing homes at Clonskeagh Road. In lodging the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) plans, the firm is looking to tap into the lucrative market for student housing in south Dublin. READ MORE The 2023/2024 annual report by University College Dublin (UCD) shows it generated €42.8 million in 'rental income from student residences on campus' in the 12 months to the end of September last. The planned scheme is 1km north-west of UCD's Belfield campus, and a report with the application states that excluding overseas students, the total UCD student population is currently 37,899. The new LRD plan supersedes a permitted five apartment scheme for the site where planning permission is due to expire in June of this year. An accompanying planning report by consultant, John Spain, states that 'the scale of the proposed development is considered to integrate appropriately with its surroundings, whilst introducing increased height'. Mr Spain also states that the proposal constitutes' the sustainable development of these underutilised lands and will enhance the appearance of the site'. The Spain report states that the proposed PBSA scheme, which will provide 439 purpose built student bedspaces 'will fulfil an identified need for student accommodation for UCD'. The planning report adds that the scheme 'represents a suitable form, design and scale of development for this strategically located underutilised site, which will provide for an effective and efficient use of this site which is highly accessible and well served by public transport'. In a separate 'Student Accommodation Demand, Concentration and Justification Report' by John Spain Associates, it states that the provision of a purpose-built and managed student accommodation scheme 'will accommodate some of the student population currently living in privately rented accommodation in the area in the new development'.
