Courts / Ireland / Report

Esat Digifone case: Lawyers for State seek sight of funding arrangement between failed mobile license bidder and UK company

Summary

In a High Court hearing on 20 May 2015, lawyers for the State and businessman Denis O'Brien sought to inspect the funding arrangements between the unsuccessful bidders for the State's second mobile phone licence – Persona Digital Telephony and Sigma Wireless Networks – and Harbour Litigation Funding (HLF), a British company that would fund the bidders' action for damages against the State. The bidders, who claimed the licence award to Esat Digifone was unfair and possibly corrupt, had entered a funding agreement with HLF in March 2015. The defendants argued that the agreement was confidential and privileged, while the plaintiffs contended that the court should allow them to see the document before the July hearing. Counsel for the Minister for Public Enterprise cited Supreme Court precedent that professional third‑party funding is not permitted in Ireland, whereas counsel for O'Brien argued that the parties are entitled to inspect the agreement under the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Esat Digifone case: Lawyers for State seek sight of funding arrangement between failed mobile license bidder and UK company. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• March 24 2015 Other
• 2015-05-20 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report