Paddy Cosgrave alleges Web Summit co-founder earned €328k for 'secret' consultancy work

Mr Cosgrave claims that public relations advisor and RTÉ board member Daire Hickey did not seek company permission to enter into a contract with BCG Digital Ventures

Paddy Cosgrave alleged in the Commercial Court that one of the co-founders of Web Summit earned €328,000 for “secret” consultancy work while still a director at the tech conference firm. File picture: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty

Web Summit chief executive Patrick (Paddy) Cosgrave has alleged in the Commercial Court that one of his co-founders earned €328,000 for “secret” consultancy work while still a director at the tech conference firm.

Public relations work conducted by Daire Hickey for third parties was at the “direct expense” of Web Summit, as it involved the disclosure of its confidential information, such as speaker lists and confidential contact details of clients, Mr Cosgrave claims.