Band won’t pursue Cashman costs

THE High Court yesterday heard that U2 won’t pursue Lola Cashman for the costs of the court action.

Counsel for U2, Paul Sreenan SC said his instructions were not to apply for costs in the High Court. Counsel for Ms Cashman, John Rogers SC said he had “no answer to that”.

During the hearing in the High Court it emerged that in July 2004, Lola Cashman issued proceedings in London seeking damages for libel and/or malicious falsehood and/or unlawful interference with the performance of a contract between her and Christies, where she had initially offered the U2 memorabilia for sale.

Solicitors for the band lodged an application with the London High Court of Justice seeking a declaration that the court had no jurisdiction in respect of the claim.

Since the defamation proceedings in London would inevitably involve determining the question of ownership of the items, it was the band’s view this would be more conveniently and less expensively done in the circuit court proceedings in Dublin, Mr Justice Michael Peart said yesterday in his judgement before the High Court.