Denis O’Brien lawyers yet to reach agreement with Red Flag side

Lawyers for Red Flag Consulting and Denis O’Brien have yet to agree on dates for exchanging legal documents necessary for the hearing of the billionaire businessman’s case against the firm over alleged conspiracy and defamation, the High Court has heard.

Mr Justice Colm MacEochaidh was told yesterday the sides do not share the same view on the urgency of the proceedings but hoped to agree on a timetable.

Frank Beatty, for Mr O’Brien, said he wanted directions from the court on a number of matters. There was an urgency as nothing substantial had happened in the case since December 21, he said. Counsel said pleadings had not been exchanged and Red Flag had not filed its defence. His side believed it should have had that defence by now but the defendants had an issue with that, he said.