O’Brien wants to be added to lawsuit

An application by billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien to be added, as a defendant, to a multi-million-euro legal action against the State, will be heard in the High Court on Oct 9.

Persona, the consortium that finished second to Mr O’Brien’s Esat Digifone in the competition for the country’s second mobile phone licence in 1996, is suing the State and alleging the licence was awarded as a result of deceit and dishonesty.

Mr O’Brien has already stated he wants to be joined as a defendant so that he can defend the case alongside the State which, in separate proceedings, is seeking to have Mr O’Brien and Michael Lowry made liable for damages that might arise from Persona’s case.