Courts / Ireland / Report
Application for approval of first "third party funding" deal to come before Irish courts further adjourned
Summary
An application for the High Court to approve a third‑party funding arrangement for a lawsuit against the State has been adjourned again to 17 and 18 November. The case involves Persona Digital Telephony and Sigma Wireless Networks, who are suing the State over the 1996 mobile‑phone licence competition that awarded Esat Digifone, owned by Denis O'Brien, the licence. They allege the process was unfair and that Esat won by bribing Minister Michael Lowry, allegations denied by the State. The funding arrangement is with Harbour Litigation Funding, a British company that would receive a share of any proceeds if the plaintiffs succeed. The court will consider whether the funding agreement contravenes maintenance and champerty rules, with a redacted disclosure of the agreement already submitted. The hearing was adjourned by Justice Aileen Donnelly due to diary difficulties.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Application for approval of first "third party funding" deal to come before Irish courts further adjourned. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- November 17 Adjournment
- 2015-07-14 Publication
Why: He says the plaintiffs do not have the ability to continue the prosecution of the proceedings and that "to date, the continuation of the proceedings has only been possible because of funds provided by the shareholders of the plaintiffs". Prosecution account reported by CNI
Places mentioned
- High Court
Topics
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