No upfront payment for firms

Mr Justice Sean Ryan yesterday refused an application by businessman Denis O’Brien requiring the two companies to provide security for costs of the action in which it is claimed the awarding of the licence was unlawful and is void.
Mr Ganley, US-registered Comcast International Holdings, and UK-registered Ganley International, were members of the Cellstar consortium which came last of six bidders in the public competition for the licence which was eventually awarded to Esat Digifone whose chairman was Mr O’Brien.