Appeal dismissed over claim TV show idea was stolen

An appeal against the High Court rejection of a man’s claim that RTÉ and columnist Fiona Looney stole the idea for the reality show Celebrity Bainisteoir has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Patrick Kinsella, of Callohill, Newtown, Co Wicklow, who was not legally represented and conducted his own case, claimed he had submitted the original idea, entitled Top Coach/Top Team, to RTÉ in August 2007.

In 2011 at the High Court, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed Mr Kinsella’s claim that both RTÉ and Ms Looney had stolen his concept for the programme, where several Gaelic football club sides are coached in a competition by different celebrities.