Jerry Conlan

Harlequin/Mount Carmel

Jerry Conlan is a Naas-based developer involved with a company formerly known as Harlequin Healthcare. The company owns and runs St Joseph’s private hospital in Sligo. In 2004 the firm competed with another company to build a private hospital in Waterford.

As of June 2006 Mr Conlan was chairman of Harlequin. The company also plans to build a €25m hospital development in Naas. It also owns Aut Evan hospital in Kilkenny.

The Sunday Times reports:

Conlan is the least well-known of the four. He sold 400 acres of land he co-owned in Naas, Co Kildare, known as Millennium Park, for €340m. He used much of the proceeds to found the Mount Carmel Medical Group which owns a maternity hospital in Rathfarnham, south Dublin. Mount Carmel has been appointed by the Health Service Executive to build private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals as part of the co-location strategy.

In July 2006, Harlequin bought Mount Carmel hospital for a sum believed to be more than €50m. After the purchase Harlequin changed its name to Mount Carmel Medical Group. At the time, it was reported:

“The company yesterday said that it would expand the hospital’s maternity unit and operating theatres. It will also introduce new non-invasive diagnostic techniques for detecting heart disease. A spokesman said yesterday that Harlequin does not intend to use any part of Mount Carmel’s grounds for developments such as residential or commercial building, and would focus its investment on the hospital.”

On December 4, 2008, it was reported that Mount Carmel Medical Group submitted a planning application to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to redevelop Mount Carmel Hospital. The plans included demolishing the maternity hospital and building a new six-storey one.

Also part of the proposal was the residential development of 40 houses and apartments on the five-acre site at Braemor Park.

Conlan also made his name in the contract catering business in Dublin and has interests in hotels and golf courses. He owns the Central Hotel on Great George’s St.

A Catholic, he is a member of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, dedicated to the defence of the Christian faith. Members are expected to pray daily and to remain faithful to their marriage vows.

Pat Conlan

Jerry’s brother Pat Conlan launched the Amethyst property fund with AIB in September 2007. The fund was to invest €120m in commercial property in Germany. AIB hoped to raise €40m from investors and add €80m in debt. Conlan, an accountant, himself invested €3m.