Irish dancer Michael Flatley has lost a court case versus an insurer over the cancellation of insurance coverage for his mansion in County Cork.
Flatley, most renowned for Lord of the Dance, was unable to secure an injunction against his insurer, Hiscox Societe Anonyme, to prevent the cancellation of a policy on Castlehyde House. The ruling was handed down by Justice Eileen Roberts in the High Court, setting a precedent that, from March 8, the mansion will be without insurance unless Flatley finds an alternative provider.
Castlehyde House, a structure located by the Blackwater River, was insured under a policy valued at €30 million, with Flatley paying a monthly premium of €5,773. The policy was scheduled to continue until November 2024.
However, Hiscox SA decided to terminate the policy, citing discrepancies in the property’s occupancy compared to the initial and renewal agreements, a report from The Irish Times stated.
The ruling means that Castlehyde House near Fermoy will not have insurance from March 8th next unless Mr Flatley can find another firm to provide cover for the protected structure on the Blackwater river.https://t.co/bkUYTHyDkg
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) February 28, 2024
A letter from Hiscox SA, giving 30 days’ notice before the policy’s cancellation on March 8, highlighted concerns over the actual use of the insured household, which appeared to deviate from the conditions agreed on at the inception and renewal of the policy.
The court was informed that Flatley, who also owns residences in Monaco, Italy, and London, stayed at Castlehyde for two to four months annually.
Flatley argued in his affidavit that he had to vacate Castlehyde in October 2023, a situation he communicated to Hiscox through a broker, stating that the mansion could not be occupied due to its current state. Despite having a full-time housekeeper and an occupied gate lodge, Hiscox SA contended they were not informed of Flatley’s absence from Castlehyde when renewing the policy for November 2023.
Further complicating matters, Flatley expressed concerns that cancelling the insurance policy could put Castlehyde, dating back to 1790, at risk. He feared finding a new insurer would be challenging due to ongoing legal battles, stating: “Castlehyde is a unique structure and the interests of justice favour its protection,” he said.
Flatley has previously initiated legal actions against several entities over alleged damages to Castlehyde worth €30 million.
Roberts, in her judgment, noted that Flatley failed to prove a legal or other obligation to maintain insurance for Castlehyde or that he could not manage the property without the current policy.
She concluded that the balance of justice did not support granting the injunction, leaving Flatley to seek alternative insurance solutions or face a period without coverage. The judge also expressed confidence in Flatley’s efforts to mitigate any risks arising from this situation.
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