EX-motor racing star Eddie Irvine has been directed to pay one of his former best friends over €300,000 after a falling out, between the pair, over the running of one of Dublin’s trendiest bars.

FORMULA ONE star Eddie Irvine refused an offer of €2.2 million from his former friend and business partner John Foley in order to gain total control of two Dublin pubs for himself, an Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday.

A FORMER financial adviser of Eddie Irvine yesterday accused the Formula One racing driver of trying to blackmail him in an attempt to gain control of a US company in which they were both investors.

Former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine was advised not to invest any more money in two loss-making Dublin pubs, a tribunal heard today.

FORMER Formula One racing driver Eddie Irvine claims he has lost €1.8m over his investment in one of Dublin’s trendiest bars.