Claims against state and Denis O'Brien over licence award may be pursued, court rules

A consortium suing the State and businessman Denis O’Brien over the award of the country’s second mobile phone licence can amend its case providing there is “greater clarity” that the claim being pursued is “firmly anchored in corruption”, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

The three judge COA also permitted the consortium to pursue a claim for restitution against Mr O’Brien for alleged unjust enrichment arising from the 1996 licence award to Esat Digifone and the subsequent sale of the licence for €2.6 billion.