Big themes were explored yesterday in the High Court action Denis O’Brien is taking against the Oireachtas. 

Billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien will give evidence today in his High Court action alleging two TDs “clearly disregarded” the constitutional separation of powers between parliament and the courts when they made statements in the Dáil about his banking affairs.

Businessman Denis O’Brien wants the courts to “clearly demarcate” the powers of the Oireachtas and courts in his “unique” action over Dáil statements by two TDs about his banking affairs, the High Court has heard.

Businessman Joseph Murphy Jr has brought a legal action against the Planning Tribunal and State claiming damages over alleged misfeasance in public office.

An application by businessman Denis O’Brien for court orders aimed at compelling a Dáil committee hand over to him minutes of two of its meetings last summer, plus other documents considered by the committee for those meetings, has been struck out at the High Court.

The Red Flag consulting firm being sued by businessman Denis O’Brien has confirmed it had a client for a dossier of material relating to the businessman which he alleges is part of a conspiracy to damage him, the High Court has heard.

Efforts are continuing to try and reach agreement about the amount of computer material a Dublin-based consulting firm must provide for photographing by experts for businessman Denis O’Brien in legal proceedings against the firm.

A consulting company has told the High Court that billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien has left “clouded in mystery” exactly how material from the firm’s computer files ended up on a USB stick placed in an envelope sent anonymously to Mr O’Brien.

Irish oil and gas exploration firm Petroceltic was yesterday granted an injunction preventing an extraordinary general meeting that had been called by its largest shareholder, Worldview, from going ahead.

A West of Ireland-based air service is challenging in the High Court the State’s decision to award the Aran Islands contract to a rival service.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin yesterday suggested a strong defence should be prepared to challenge businessman Denis O’Brien’s legal action against the Houses of the Oireachtas.

A High Court Judge stated it was never his intention that an injunction preventing RTÉ from reporting on businessman Denis O’Brien’s personal finances would restrict media outlets from fairly reporting on comments made in the Dail.

Denis O’Brien can never be a private person because he is a “media baron” possessing the power wealth can buy, a barrister for RTÉ has said in the High Court.

Businessman Denis O’Brien is seeking a High Court injunction against RTÉ preventing what he says is a planned broadcast report about certain details in relation to his private banking affairs.

Sports management company Horizon seeks application for further inspection of mobile phones

The O’Flynn construction group has set out "a good arguable case" entitling it to pursue global private equity fund Blackstone over an alleged conspiracy to take over key companies in the Cork-based group, the Commercial Court ruled.

Cork brothers Michael and John O’Flynn have told the High Court they would not be maintaining allegations of wrongdoing against four receivers appointed to their companies by Blackstone subsidiary Carbon Finance.

Developers Michael and John O’Flynn will continue their legal battle in the High Court today against what they call an “improper” attempt by US investment giant Blackstone to take over the O’Flynn Construction Group.

Four key companies in the Cork-based O’Flynn construction group have claimed a petition for appointment of an interim examiner to them is part of an improper attempt to take over the O’Flynn group.

Nama is pursuing businessman Garrett Kelleher for €46.8m summary judgment orders arising mostly from a limited guarantee relating to substantial loans made by the former Anglo Irish Bank for developments in Ireland, the US and Belgium.

One-time billionaire businessman Tony O’Reilly has had a judgment for €22.6m entered against him at the Commercial Court.

An action by the Hickey pharmacy group and its owner Patrick Hickey aimed at preventing their loans, valued at up to €45m, being included in a portfolio of €900m loans offered for sale by the liquidators of IBRC, has been withdrawn on confidential terms at the High Court.

RELATIONSHIP break-ups are dashed dreams, heartache, an empty bed.

Following his death at the age of 86, numerous tributes have been paid to Malcolm Brodie, the veteran Belfast Telegraph football writer who covered every World Cup from 1954 to 2006.

Treasury Holdings gave an “unequivocal” undertaking earlier this month not to bring a legal challenge to the appointment of receivers over several of its assets if Nama allowed a two-week “standstill” period which Nama had given, the High Court was told yesterday when Treasury’s challenge to those receivers came before the court.

The High Court has agreed an early hearing date for a challenge by Treasury Holdings against NAMA's decision to appoint receivers to some of the company's properties.

A PROPERTY investment in Sligo allegedly promoted by an accountant and involving former EU Commissioner Ray MacSharry and others is at the centre of a Commercial Court action which opened yesterday.

High Court proceedings by Anglo Irish Bank against Co Cork solicitor Declan Guilfoyle, who allegedly planned to liquidate the State-owned bank, were struck out today.

DEVELOPER David Daly and his children have taken legal proceedings aimed at preventing the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) insisting on repayment of their €457 million loans with AIB or the appointing a receiver over properties.

A LAW firm being sued by businessman Philip Lynch and his family in an effort to prevent AIB pursuing them for repayment of a €25 million development loan was never retained by the Lynches in connection with that deal and owed no duty of care to them, the Commercial Court was told yesterday.

A SOLICITOR has denied he “mixed up” the concepts of security and recourse in an email stating Allied Irish Bank “no longer require any legal recourse” against businessman Philip Lynch, developer Gerry Conlan “and the Lynch children” for a €25 million loan to buy development lands in Waterford.

MORE than 400 people who invested in various bonds and investment products are suing ACC Bank over alleged failure to secure any return on their investments, the Commercial Court has heard.

NAMA was not entitled to decide to acquire €2.1 billion loans of Paddy McKillen and his companies simply because it believed their size alone represented a “systemic risk” to the banks involved in NAMA, it was argued before the Supreme Court yesterday.

Property investor Paddy McKillen’s challenge to Nama is underway before seven judges of the Supreme Court today.

A LEGAL action by property investor Paddy McKillen with crucial implications for the work of the National Assets Management Agency has opened with a claim that NAMA’s decision to acquire €211 million loans from Bank of Ireland to Mr McKillen involved a “total” and “unprecedented” abrogation of his rights.

Lawyers for property developer Paddy McKillen have told the High Court that the aquisition of his loans by NAMA would have significant adverse affects on him, his business and his financial well-being.

THE Supreme Court will issue a ruling next Tuesday which could determine the fate of Liam Carroll’s heavily-indebted construction group, Zoe Developments.

THE save Zoe saga goes on after the Supreme Court granted a further stay of execution for another 10 days at least.

PROPERTY developer Liam Carroll has obtained a temporary reprieve from insolvency for his construction group after the High Court ruled it could reapply for examinership, despite a similar unsuccessful application earlier this month.