Regency Hotel's loss rises to €217k after gangland murder, claims for indemnity

By Staff Writer

Mar 24, 2016 09:17 AM EDT

Regency Hotel's losses amounted to €217,000 since David Byrne murder. Regency Hotel Group has been suffering from loss of goodwill and business reputation ever since the firing in the premises of hotel on 5 February 2016. The recent violence has propelled cancellation of several events at the hotel. Regency Hotel has applied for indemnity for €217,000 to its insuring company Aviva. 

Regan Development Ltd, which trades as Regency Hotel Group, is located in Dublin, which capital of Republic of Ireland. Regency Hotel is witnessing tarnishing of its reputation. The firing in the hotel premises took life of David Byrne in addition to injuring two people. Hotel business viability and livelihoods of staff have been at stake since February. 

Independent reports that recent violence at Regency Hotel has been impacting its business. Recently a group of four armed men entered the Regency Hotel premises as a boxing weigh-in was taking place. Micheal P O'Higgins SC, counsel for Regal Development Ltd, said the hotel was closed down for many days after the violence taking place.

The firing by four armed men at Regency Hotel was highlighted in the local media. This has resulted in cancellation of booked events. Several tourists also cancelled their room bookings at the hotel. 

Regency Hotel is seeking indemnity from insurer Aviva. James McGettigan, owner of the hotel, in a sworn affidavit, said due to great attention of media to the violence taken place on 5 February was both "understandable and regrettable." Regency Hotel has made an application claiming over €217,000 with Aviv insuring company, as reported by NewsTalk.

McGettigan further said in the affidavit that location of shooting became widely known because of television footage and extended media coverage. However, Justice Robert Haughton views that the matter is not urgent and placed the application back to the new law term in April.

After filing an application with insurer Aviv for indemnity, McGettigan realized that Aviva Insurance has failed to engage with them fully. McGettigan is seeking permission from High Court to serve notice of legal proceedings against the company. The hearing is expected in April, as reported by The Irish Times.

The recent happenings are raising a question that "is Dublin in the grip of a vicious crime war?" Two execution-style gangland murders within a span of week sent shock waves across the UK. These violent incidents took place just weeks before the general elections and political consternation. According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 38 percent of homicides in Ireland are gun killings as against seven percent of homicides are by firearms in the UK.

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