Irvine accused of trying to blackmail ex-financial adviser

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.

English-based accountant Charles Watchman told a hearing of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in Dublin that the former Grand Prix star had delivered “a blackmail threat” to him by text in August.

Mr Watchman said the blackmail attempt which related to his personal life was used by Mr Irvine to get him to agree to put their company, Presteligence, into receivership, rather than invest more money in the project.

He claimed Mr Irvine’s plan was to buy the loss-making software company back from the receiver in order to get total control of the business. “Eddie had a disposition to try and have 100% control. But he is ill-equipped to handle a situation where he doesn’t have that,” said Mr Watchman.

His remarks were made during an EAT hearing into a claim of unfair dismissal by John Foley, a former business partner and friend of Mr Irvine.

The legal action is against Calview Investments - the company co-owned by the two men which runs two pubs in Dublin including the upmarket Cocoon bar, off Grafton Street.

Both men are involved in a bitter dispute for control of Cocoon and O’Reilly’s on Tara Street which has resulted in a series of separate legal actions including the current EAT hearing.

Mr Foley claims he was unfairly sacked from his €75,000-a-year job as manager of the two pubs in April 2003 by the other directors of Calview in order to allow the racing driver take control of the businesses.

However, lawyers for Mr Irvine claims he was dismissed for bouncing cheques in Cocoon as well as using the company’s money to pay his personal debts.

Yesterday, Mr Watchman, who gave evidence on Mr Irvine’s behalf to the EAT last March, effectively became a hostile witness. It emerged the accountant had recently contacted the tribunal to express unhappiness about some aspect of his earlier evidence.

At the time, Mr Watchman testified he did not believe Mr Irvine was committed to a €1 million refinancing package for Calview in order to get rid of Mr Foley.

However, he was now uncertain in light of events relating to Presteligence. Mr Irvine’s barrister, Tom Mallon SC questioned the ability of the EAT to hear the new evidence, claiming it was “entirely prejudicial” to his client’s case and was “destroying” the tribunal.

Asked about his relationship with Mr Irvine, Mr Watchman replied: “I hope I never see him again.”

The retired motor racing star, who is currently in Ireland to arrange his 40th birthday party in Dublin at the weekend, has not appeared before the EAT.