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Court rules on ownership of Bewley's stained-glass windows

Friday, 20 Jan 2023

Updated / Friday, 20 Jan 2023 20:31

High Court made a ruling over six Harry Clarke windows in Bewley's café

By Dyane Connor

The High Court has ruled that four of the six Harry Clarke

stained-glass works in Bewley's cafe on Grafton Street are "windows"

and belong to the owner of the building.

The judge said the remaining two pieces are not considered to be

windows but are works of art and belong to the tenants, Bewley's Café.

The six stained-glass works by the renowned illustrator and

stained-glass artist have been at the centre of an ownership dispute

between RGRE Grafton Ltd, which owns the building, and Bewley’s Café.

They are estimated to be worth €1 million.

RGRE Grafton Ltd, the company of developer Johnny Ronan, had argued

that the six "windows" were "part and parcel" of the premises.

The tenants argued that they are not "windows" but are moveable

artworks that are not part of the structure of the premises.

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The tenants said the works are decorative and ornamental and are never

used as windows.

At the centre of the dispute are four panels called 'The Four Orders'

and separate work comprising of two panels called the 'Swan Yard'.

Mr Justice Denis McDonald said at the time of their installation in

1928, 'The Four Orders' works were installed in the position shown in a

1998 video and that they operated as conventional windows at that time

admitting light and providing ventilation to the café.

The judge said: "They were therefore part of the external skin of the

café at that time and also weathering the café.

"Had there not been windows in the four openings in question, the café

would have been left with gaping holes in the walls."

He ruled that these four works are owned by the landlord, but said the

tenant has the benefit of them for the duration of the lease.

The tenants said the works are decorative and not used as windows (Pic:

RollingNews.ie)

In relation to the 'Swan Yard' works, Mr Justice McDonald said the

works were installed as part of a double layer of windows.

He said while they also provided light to the café and some

ventilation, they were not part of the external skin of the café and

did not contribute to "weathering it".

They had been moved to an internal wall in the café and he ruled that

these two stained glass panels are owned by the tenants.

This legal action was initiated after a dispute over rent arrears.

In 2020, RGRE sought possession of the premises over non-payment of

rent, but this was resolved following mediation and arrears of €749,000

were paid.

There followed a dispute in which Bewley's sought to offset further

rent payments by offering to sell the Harry Clarke windows to RGRE.

But RGRE said Bewley's could not sell what it already owned

In a statement, RGRE said it welcomed the decision, which it said means

the 'Four Orders' windows will "remain at their Dublin home on Grafton

Street and are protected from being sold or otherwise removed from the

building".

It said it was disappointed that the court determined the two other

Harry Clarke-stained glass windows - the 'Swan Yard' windows - are the

tenant's fixtures.

RGRE Chief Executive Rory Williams said the court's decision means that

the "legacy of a notable Irish artist is protected and Harry Clarke's

windows will continue to catch the eye of the public in the building

and city they were designed to enhance".

In a statement, Bewley's said that while confirmation of ownership of

the artworks was welcome, it was "disappointed with elements of today's

judgment".

"We will now consider our options with our legal team. Our wish remains

that the Harry Clarke stained-glass artworks be transferred into public

ownership through a donation to a suitable institution."