Fashion designer withdraws action against Riverdance

A fashion designer who created the costumes for the 'Riverdance the Show' has withdrawn his High Court action against the the show's production company.

Designer Jen Kelly (aged 49) of North Great Georges Street, Dublin 1 has brought an action against Abhann Productions and Tyrone Productions, Mary Street Little, Dublin 7, for breach of contract. Abhann Productions is the company set up by husband and wife team John McColgan and Moya Doherty to control Riverdance.

In the High Court today counsel for Mr Kelly Anthony Collins SC told the court that his client wished to withdraw the action and the matter could now be struck out.

In his action Mr Kelly who was seeking more than €800,000 in damages, claimed that he has not been given proper credit for his work and that his designs have been used and altered without his consent.

Mr Kelly alleged that the defendants were in breach of an agreement of November 1999 where they undertook not to use his costume designs in connection with any live performance of 'Riverdance the Show' after December 31, 2001.

The defendant denied the claims.

Today on what was the third day of the hearing Collins said that Mr Kelly now accepted that the defendants did not use Mr Kelly's design or copies of his designs in live performances of Riverdance after December 2001.

The case, which commenced before Mr Justice John MacMenamin last week, was expected to run in the High Court for two weeks.