Those involved in an Irish craft beer dispute will attempt mediation to hopefully resolve their ongoing issues. The dispute has reached the High Court and involved two craft beer brewing firms – Whiplash Beer Limited and the Dublin Lager Company Limited trading as Larkins Brewing Company.

According to the claim filed by Whiplash Beer, Larkins has prevented Alex Lawes, one of the owners of Whiplash from entering their shared location at Renmore Business Park in Kilcoole Co Wicklow. Lawes must be able to access the premises when needed and because Larkins prevented him from doing so, the company has suffered. This has allegedly occurred on more than one occasion.

Whiplash received an injunction from the court concerning the matter on an ex-parte basis, which means they were the only side represented when the injunction was granted. The injunction orders Larkins to not interfere with Whiplash’s business and to not prevent anyone from Whiplash from gaining access to the premises when needed.

Larkins denies wrongdoing and wants the injunction lifted.

The High Court was due to hear an application concerning the injunction which requested it remain in place until a permanent action had been determined. But following the request, the judge instead insisted on a mediation attempt calling it “a very obvious case for mediation.”

Mediation will bring Larkins and Whiplash together to discuss the matter and device a resolution on their own that will then be approved by the court. Should a mutually beneficial resolution not be reached during mediation, the two sides can return to court.