‘Effort to destabilise’ links with McIlroy

Trio accused of working against golfer’s relationship with agency

Three people close to Rory McIlroy made a “concerted effort” to destabilise the golfer’s relationship with the sports agency he had signed a representation agreement with, the High Court has heard.

Those people were consultant Donal Casey, who later became CEO of Rory McIlroy Inc; Sean O’Flaherty, the golfer’s personal assistant; and Mr McIlroy’s father, Gerry, the court was told by Maurice Collins SC, for Horizon Sports Management Ltd and two other companies.

“It is a central part of my clients’ case that in the period subsequent to January 2013, Mr Casey, Mr O’Flaherty, and Gerry McIlroy made a concerted effort to destabilised the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Horizon, and in particular with Conor Ridge [the Horizon CEO].”

Mr Collins was speaking during an application by his clients for an order that Mr McIlroy and Mr Flaherty swear further affidavits in relation to documents generated when legal advice was sought by businessman Dermot Desmond in relation to justifying the termination of Mr McIlroy’s contract in 2013.

It was on the third and last day of pre-trial applications for orders seeking inspection of mobile phones of Mr McIlroy and others and for further disclosure in advance of the hearing of the golfer’s claim he is entitled to repudiate a December 2011 agreement with Horizon, Gurteen Ltd and Canovan Management Services on grounds that it was improvident.

The defendants deny his claims and have counter-claimed for damages for losses. A decision on the mobile phones issue will be given later.

Earlier, Rossa Fanning BL, for Mr McIlroy, said Mr Desmond was contacted by Mr McIlroy about contract matters as he (Desmond) was experienced in this area. Mr Desmond asked his own lawyer to prepare a memo which the McIlroy disclosed previously to the defendants but this was followed by more inquiries in relation to documents mentioned in the memo which were also handed over, counsel said.

Mr Collins, for the defendants, said the documents mentioned in the memo should have been but were not disclosed and an explanation was needed from Mr McIlroy and Mr O’Flaherty in relation to their authorship.

Mr Justice Raymond Fullam ordered that Rory McIlroy and Mr O’Flaherty swear further affidavits by next week in relation to the legal advice memo to Mr Desmond. The judge also rejected an application by the McIlroy side for the defendants to quantify their claim for damages in advance of the hearing. The judge said it was premature.