UK firm to back mobile action

A UK litigation funding company is prepared to back a damages action being brought by one of the unsuccessful bidders for Ireland’s second mobile-phone licence, the High Court has heard.

Harbour Litigation Funding would get a share of the proceeds if members of the consortium bringing the case, Persona Digital Telephony and Sigma Wireless Networks, win their action alleging the awarding process was unfairly conducted.

The consortium was a runner-up in the 1996 competition for the mobile-phone licence which was awarded to Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone consortium.